LTof the
U5TKALIAN
DESERT
ERNEST
FAVENC
JAMES DALLY
OLD AND RARE BOOKS
99 Walkerville Terrace
W'lkerville, Sth. Am.
Telephone 65 7909
" AT THE SOUND THE OLD MAN ON THE ROCK SMILED
AND LEANT FORWARD"
The Secret of the
Australian Desert
BY
ERNEST FAVENC
Author of " The History of Australian Exploration ", " Tales of the Austral
Tropics ", &c. &c.
WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS AND A MAP
BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY
p/e
4499
PREFACE.
Although the interior of the continent of Australia
is singularly deficient in the more picturesque elements
of romance, it was, for nearly two-thirds of a century,
a most attractive lure to men of adventurous char-
acter.
Oxley, Sturt, Mitchell, Kennedy, and Stuart have
left deathless names on the roll of Australian explorers,
but the unknown fate of Ludwig Leichhardt has al-
ways centred most of the romance of story about his
memory.
In April, 1848, he left Macpherson's Station, Cogoon
River, situated in the southern portion of what is
now the colony of Queensland, with the intention of
endeavouring to reach Perth, on the west coast, the
capital of Western Australia, by traversing, if possible,
the then unknown heart of the continent.
From that day to this, no clue to the disappearance
of the whole party has ever been discovered. Several
expeditions have been fruitlessly despatched in search
of the missing men; and many false reports as to the
finding of relics of the party have been brought in at
various times. Even the rapid advance of settlement,
the comparatively full knowledge now possessed
iv PREFACE.
of the interior, have thrown no light on the subject.
This, the great mystery of Australian exploration, I
have taken for the groundwork of my story.
The view I have adopted of the probable course
pursued by Leichhardt and his party, is the one that
commends itself to the majority of experienced bush-
men. Turned back by the dry country west of the
Diamantina River, the explorer probably followed that
river up, and crossed the main watershed on to the
head of some river running north into the Gulf of
Carpentaria; in fact, the same track afterwards followed
by the ill-fated Burke and Wills. Leichhardt could
then easily reach the route he pursued on his first
expedition to Port Essington, the only successful one
he made, and on which his reputation is based. This
course would then lead him around the foot of the
Gulf to the Roper River, where he would leave his
old route, follow the Roper, or a tributary, to its head,
and strike south-west, into the scantily-watered waste
of the interior. This view is borne out by the fact
that trees, marked with what appears to be a letter
L, have been found on or near this supposititious
line of travel; and A. C. Gregory, the leader of one
of the search expeditions, discovered the framework of
a small hut, seemingly built by white men, on a creek
he called the Elsie, a tributary of the Roper River.
Another unexplained riddle I have introduced
points to the possible early occupation of Australia
PREFACE. V
by an ancient and partly civilized race. In 1838,
Lieutenant, now Sir George Grey, when on an ex-
pedition in north-west Australia, discovered some
remarkable paintings in a cave on the Glenelg River,
evidently not the work of the present inhabitants.
He describes the principal one as " The figure of a
man, ten feet six inches in height, clothed from the
chin downwards in a red garment which reached to
the wrists and ankles ". The head of this figure was
encircled by a halo or turban, and on it strange
characters were inscribed, like a written name. Grey
says "I was certainly surprised at the moment I
first saw this gigantic head and upper part of a body
bending over and staring grimly down on me ". Al-
though the dress and accessories so plainly prove that
these paintings were not the work of the Australian
aborigines, the locality, strange to say, has not been
again investigated. I have taken the liberty of trans-
planting these cave paintings from the north-west
coast to the interior, and also of changing the names
of some of the members of Leichhardt's party. The
descriptions of the physical features of the country
are faithful records from personal experience.
ERNEST FAVENC.
CONTENTS.
Chap. Page
I. SAND AND SCRUB, 11
II. A STRANGE ROAD, 19
III. A MYSTERIOUS PROCESSION, 26
IV. THE DEVIL'S TRACKS, 34
V. A LIFELESS SWAMP, 41
VI. THE BURNING MOUNTAIN AT LAST, .... 46
VII. CANNIBALS, 55
VIII. THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE, 68
IX. AN EXCITING DISCOVERY, 80
X. THE MISSING EXPEDITION, ....... 87
XI. STUART'S JOURNAL, 93
XII. CHARLIE'S ADVENTURE, 102
XIII. THE TRIP SOUTH, 112
XIV. IN THE SPINIFEX DESERT, 120
XV. THE FATE OF COLUMBUS, 128
XVI. THE SLAUGHTER CHAMBER, 134
XVII. A HOPELESS SITUATION, 141
Vlll CONTENTS.
Chap. Page
XVIII. THE ANCIENT AUSTRALIANS, 149
XIX. CHARLIE FALLS SICK, 156
XX. A FURTHER DISCOVERY, 163
XXI. THE FINAL DEPARTURE, 171
XXII. THE GOLD REEF DISCOVERED, 180
XXIII. A SOLITARY CAMP, 187
XXIV. MORE DRY CREEKS, 196
XXV. THE LAST or THE CANNIBALS, 204
XXVI. A FALSE ALARM 212
XXVII. HOME AGAIN, 220
ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
"AT THE SOUND THE OLD MAN ON THE ROCK SMILED
AND LEANT FORWARD" Frontispiece 63
THEY FIND THE DEVIL'S TRACK ON THE KOCK-PLAIN . 35
MORTON AND HIS PARTY EXAMINE THE SLAUGHTER-
CHAMBER 151
THE LAST OF THE BLOODTHIRSTY WARLATTAS - 206
Route Map 15
THE SECRET OP
THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT
CHAPTER I
The Start for the Burning Mountain Sand and Scrub.
IT is the beginning of November November
in the Southern hemisphere, not the raw,
foggy month of the North November in
Central Australia, where the sun rises hot and
red in a breathless morn, and sinks at night
in a heated haze, hovering around the level
horizon.
It has been a day to doze in the shade if
possible, and dream of icebergs. The short
twilight is rapidly fading into the darkness of
a moonless night. Scarcely darkness, however,
for the brilliant constellations of the south and
the radiant evening star in the west lend their
rays to light up the scene. Under the verandah
11
12 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
of a rough hut mud walls with galvanized iron
roof, three men are sitting indolently smoking
the evening pipe that usually follows the last
meal of the day. It is far up in the north of
South Australia, in fact almost on the boundary
line that divides that colony from its dependency,
known as the Northern Territory. The hut is
the principal building on a cattle-station, where,
as on most other outside stations, the improve-
ments are of a very primitive kind. The three
occupants of the verandah are the owner of the
station; a young relation staying with him to
gain that much-talked-of commodity, "colonial
experience"; and a friend, a squatter from a
neighbouring run.
" Well," says Morton, the owner, a sun-tanned,
wiry little fellow, addressing his neighbour,
" what do you say, Brown, to having a look for
the burning mountain?"
"Umph!" grunts Brown, who differs consider-
ably in size, owning as he does some six feet
two inches of humanity; "isn't this weather hot
enough for you without looking for burning
mountains?"
" We've nothing much to do for two or three
months, and I've made up my mind to see if
there's any truth in this yarn the niggers have."
" I never could make head or tail of it," said
Brown.
"Nor I," returned Morton; "but although
SAND AND SCRUB. 13
everybody puts it down as a burning mountain,
I am not of that opinion. I have questioned
them very patiently, and can only find out that
there is a big fire always burning in the same
place, but when I ask about a mountain, they
say no. None of them have ever been there;
they have only heard of it from others, and they
seem almost frightened to speak of it."
"They use much the same word for rocks,
stones, and mountains."
" Yes ; and I think it is rocks that they mean."
"What has your boy, Billy Button, to say
about it?"
"Billy comes from a tribe nearly a hundred
miles from here. He has heard the yarn, but has
never seen any blacks who have been there."
" Let's see. It is supposed to lie rather north
of west from here. How far have you been in
that direction, Morton?"
" Some fifty miles. It's all scrub and sand. The
niggers, however, get across in some seasons of
the year, and I think this is the time; there have
been plenty of thunder-storms that way lately."
" Well, I'll make one ; a little scorching more
or less does not matter much up here. You
ought to have kept some of the camels back the
last time the team was up here."
" Didn't think of it. But I fancy horses will
be handier, we have a thunder-storm nearly every
day."
14 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"And shall have until we start," replied
Brown, "then you see they will knock off at
once. How many of us will there be?"
"The pair of us, and what do you say,
Charlie? Are you anxious to distinguish your-
self?"
" I certainly hope you won't leave me behind,"
returned his young cousin, in an injured tone.
" All right. Billy Button will make four, and
that will be enough. To-morrow we'll have all
the horses in and get ready for a start the next
day."
"How long shall we be away?" asked Charlie,
who bore upon his shoulders the onerous duties of
storekeeper.
"Can't say. What do you think, Brown?
Six weeks? Two months?"
"We surely ought to find something in that
time, if it's only the remains of Leichhardt."
"Make up three months' rations for four,
Charlie; I hate to run short. Lucky we killed
the other day, the beef will be just right for
carrying."
On an outside cattle-station, where so much
camping-out has to be constantly done, the pre-
parations for such a trip do not take long, and
the morning of the second day found everything
in readiness. Brown had sent over to his place
for his own horses, and they started with four-
teen in all. Two apiece for riding, four packed
ATTACKED BY
e> M.
Downs^ s't-oifo wtflf
' Vs>
fiSS*^^
J -^ ito
CARPENTARIA
SAND AND SCRUB. 15
with rations, and two with canvas water-bags
and the necessary blankets, tent, &c. At the
last moment the blacks about the station tried to
dissuade Billy from, going by telling him horrible
tales of the fate surely awaiting him at the
dreaded burning mountain, but Billy stoutly
refused to be frightened, and scorned to remain,
although given the option by Morton.
The first thirty miles of the journey was over
familiar country, and they camped that night at
a small water-hole lately filled by a thunder-
storm. Beyond them now stretched a waste of
sand ridges and mulga scrub, into which Morton
had once penetrated for some twenty miles.
With full water-bags, and a determination not to
be beaten back without a struggle, our adven-
turers commenced the second day's journey with
light hearts.
During the whole of the day the sombre scrub
and heavy sand continued, without break or
change in their depressing monotony. Scarcely the
note of a bird or insect broke the silence, as they
toiled on without much heart for conversation.
Towards evening a piece of good fortune befell
them. On a small fiat between two sand ridges
they crossed a patch of short green grass, the
result of a recent thunder-storm. No water could
be found, the hot summer sun having evaporated
all that had been caught in the shallow clay pans.
The green grass was, however, a boon to the
16 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
horses, who did not feel the want of water so
much on the soft young feed.
Next morning they were saddled and packed
up, ready to start by sunrise. About ten o'clock
they ascended a sand ridge somewhat higher
than those they had formerly crossed, and from
its crest they were able to look around on the
sea of scrub that surrounded them. Not far
off, in the direction in which they were going,
Morton drew the attention of his companions to
a thin column of smoke.
"Burning mountain already?" queried Brown.
"Niggers travelling and hunting," replied
Morton. " The scrub looks thinner there. They
won't be far from camp at this time in the
morning; but I expect the water is only a soak-
hole, of no use to us."
In less than an hour they were riding over
patches of still-burning grass, thinly scattered
through a forest of bloodwood-trees; but neither
the sharp eyes of Morton or Billy could detect
a sign of the hunters. After searching for some
time the boy found the tracks of a blackfellow,
two gins, 1 and some pickaninnies 2 coming from
the westward, and these they followed back for
about a mile to a freshly-abandoned camp. It
was situated on a fairly open piece of country ^
partly covered with coarse drift sand. Not far
from the camp was a ragged old shell of a gum-
1 Women. 8 Children.
(M64)
SAND AND SCRUB. 17
tree, covered with tomahawk marks. Billy, who
had at once gone to this tree, gave a low whistle,
and the others came up. He pointed to a small
hole near the butt, and dismounting put his arm
down and then peered into it.
"Water long way down," he said. "Gone
bung, mine think it." By which they understood
that the supply had dried up. After some search-
ing about, a long sapling was procured and thrust
down. The hole was about ten feet deep, and the
end of the sapling brought up some wet mud.
" How did the blacks get down for the water,
Billy?" asked Brown.
" Pickaninny go down," replied the boy, point-
ing to a tiny foothold in the side of the hole.
" Well, boys," said Morton, who had been pok-
ing the sapling down vigorously and examining
the point, "I don't see much to be got out of
this. Evidently there's been one little family
living on this hole, and now they've been dried
out. It would take us two hours to open up
this hole, and then we should probably get
nothing for our pains."
" Water gone bung," repeated Billy.
" What do you say to following this flat? It's
going partly in our direction, and may lead to
something."
No one having anything better to suggest
they resumed their journey once more, until
a mid-day halt was made.
(M64) B
18 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"Well, respected leader," remarked Brown,
after the meal was finished and pipes were lit,
"I'm afraid our horses will look mighty dicky
to-morrow morning unless we get them a drink
to-night."
Morton glanced lazily at them, where they
stood grouped under whatever scanty shade they
could obtain.
"They are beginning to look tucked up," he
replied, "but we'll pull up something before
dark."
" I sincerely hope so," said Brown as he stood
up. " Go ahead once more, Captain Cook."
About four o'clock the open flat which they
had followed grew narrower, until at last the
scrub closed in entirely and they found them-
selves confronted by a thicker growth than any
they had yet met with. The mulga having
given place to a species of mallee.
Morton, who was leading, stopped.
" We must push through," he said. " It may
be only a belt, and if we start to follow it round
we shall be all night in it."
"Right," replied Brown. "I'll take a turn
ahead if you like. I prefer being first in a
scrub."
Morton laughed and dropped behind, and for
about an hour very slow progress was made, the
scrub getting worse and worse. The sun was
sinking low, and the cheerful prospect of a night
A STRANGE ROAD. 19
in the scrub was before them, when, to the relief
of all, Brown suddenly called out:
"Hurrah! we're out of itl"
CHAPTER H.
A Native Cemetery Billy's Explanation Stopped once
more by Dense Scrub Discovery of a Strange Eoad.
AS the party emerged, one after another, from
the scrub, their eyes were delighted by a
prospect of open-downs country before them,
dotted here and there with clumps of gidea-trees.
But, better than all, there was plainly to be seen,
scarcely a short mile away, a line of gum-trees,
creek timber, whilst the presence of water was
plainly attested by flights of white corellas
hovering about.
It was not long before the whole party were
comfortably encamped beside a good-sized water-
hole, and the horses luxuriating on succulent
Mitchell and blue grass.
Brown, with his pipe as usual under full blast,
was enjoying the scene, when Billy, who had been
wandering around the camp, came up and re-
marked :
" No sleep here."
"What's the matter?" asked Brown.
20 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Billy pointed to a patch of scrub a short dis-
tance off, and beckoned to him to follow.
Brown noticed that the tops of the trees looked
particularly thick and dense, but it was not until
he was quite close that he saw the reason. Nearly
every tree of any size bore a rude scaffolding,
and on the top of every scaffold lay either a
bleached skeleton or a dried mummy-like corpse.
The ground, too, was covered with bones and
skulls that had fallen through. Brown called
the others, and they gazed with awe at this
strange sepulchre.
" I've often seen the bodies put in trees, but
aever in such numbers as this. Why, there must
be hundreds here!" said Morton.
" I never saw more than two together at the
outside," returned Brown. "Strange," he went
on, after a closer inspection; "all the bodies who
have any dried skin remaining on their foreheads
have a red smudge there!"
" No sleep here ; by and by that fellow get up,
walk about," insisted Billy.
This remark helped to dispel the gloom caused
by the sight of so many dead bodies, and Billy
had to undergo a good deal of chaff. It was
evident, however, that his fright was genuine,
although, like most natives, the reason of it could
not be drawn from him.
No ghostly visitants came near the camp that
night, and all slept the sleep of tired men.
A STRANGE ROAD. 21
Charlie, waking up before daylight and find-
ing Billy in the sound stupor common to the
aborigines at that hour, conceived a wicked idea.
Brown dabbled a little in sketching, and Charlie,
after hunting up the colour-box in one of the
pack-bags, proceeded to paint Billy's forehead red,
after the manner of the mummies in the tree-tops.
"Hallo, Billy!" said Morton, when they were
all about and the quart-pots for breakfast merrily
boiling. "What's up with your head?"
Billy grinned, not understanding what was
meant.
" Look here," said Brown, taking a hand-glass
out of the pack and holding it in front of his
face. Billy looked, and turned as white as it
was possible for a blackfellow to do.
" Him bin come up ! " he yelled, starting up and
pointing to the scrub where the bodies were.
Then looked apprehensively around, as though
he expected to see some belated corpse still
walking about.
"Tell him you did it, Charlie," said Morton.
"I'm afraid you've funked him, and if so he'll
bolt. Never play tricks on a blackfellow."
Charlie at once complied, and after Billy had
been induced to wash the paint off and had in-
spected the colour-box, he was somewhat com-
forted; but he evidently still thought that the
subject was not a fit one to joke about.
Struck by Billy's evident panic, Morton again
22 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
attempted to extract the reason from him, and
after some trouble learned that he had heard of
the men with a red smear on the forehead, who
were supposed to be in some way connected with
the burning mountain. That, during the day-
time, they pretended to be dead, but at night
got up and walked about.
" This looks as though we were on the right
track," said Morton to Brown.
" Hum ! Nice sort of company you are intro-
ducing us to. However Death or glory ! Let's
saddle up and make a start."
In a short time the friendly water-hole and
the ghastly scrub beside it were left behind,
but the patch of open country unfortunately
proved to be of very limited extent in the direc-
tion they were going, and in a short time they
found themselves again entangled in the dense
scrub, which was now becoming such a formi-
dable obstacle to their progress. Towards the
middle of the day, the sanguine Morton began
to despair of pushing on, even at the slow rate
at which they were going, and to meditate a
return to their last night's camp and a fresh
start in a new direction. At noon they were
compelled to halt; the desert hedge- wood had
now made its appearance, and the barrier pre-
sented by it was almost impenetrable.
They stopped for a hasty meal, and when it
was finished, Morton said to Brown:
A STRANGE ROAD. 23
"What do you say, old man? Will you go
north for a bit, and I will go south, and we'll see
if there is anything like a gap in this confounded
scrub?"
" My dear old boy I am entirely at your dis-
posal. But allow me to suggest that we shall get
along infinitely better on foot."
" I think so too. Charlie, you and Billy stop
here with the horses until we come back."
It was a good two hours before the cracking
of branches and muttered bad language, coming
from the south, announced to Charlie and Billy
the return of Morton.
" How did you get on?" was the query.
"Get on!" returned Morton savagely; "I did
not get on at all. I don't believe I got half a mile
from here. It's the worst old-man scrub I was
ever in in my life; I've barked my hands nicely.
If old Brown did not get on any better than I
did, we shall have to go and chop him out with
an axe."
Almost as he spoke, Billy held up his hand
and said:
" Mitter Brown come up."
In a few minutes his tall form emerged from
the thicket.
" I beg to report, sir," he said to Morton with
mock solemnity, "that the main road to some-
where is about three-quarters of a mile to the
northward."
24 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" What on earth do you mean, old man?"
"Just what I say. After fighting my way
through some of the most awful scrub I ever
met with, I came to a fine clear road gas-lamps,
milestones, and probably bridges and public-
houses."
" Well, we'd better go there at once. I won-
der you came back without patronizing one of
the pubs."
" I did not exactly see all that I have stated,
but I have no doubt whatever of their existence,"
returned Brown. " Joking apart, there really is
a cleared track out there, but we'll have to cut a
road to get the horses there."
" This bangs everything into a dust -heap.
But it's getting late and we had better shape.
Charlie, you and Billy go ahead with the
tomahawks, and we will dodge the horses along
after you."
It took time, labour, and patience to make the
distance indicated by Brown; but about an hour
before sundown, to the astonishment of three
of them, they stood upon what was evidently
a cleared track, about the width of an ordinary
bridle- track. Morton examined the stumps, and
pointed out that the work had been done by
stone tomahawks. Billy looked for tracks, but
none had been made since the rain from the last
thunder-storm had fallen.
"It's running westward. I suppose it's all
A STKANGE ROAD. 25
right to follow it, but this sort of thing beats
my experience. What say you, Brown?" asked
Morton.
" Forward, gentlemen, while the light lasts,"
was the reply of that individual.
Their progress was now easy, for the track
had been most carefully cleared, and the horses,
all old stagers, marched along in single file with-
out any trouble. Darkness, however, fell, and
the scrub was still on either hand of them
unchanged.
"Morton," said Brown, breaking the silence,
" I've got an idea."
" Stick to it hard, old man; it's the first I ever
knew you to possess."
" Don't try to be too funny. Well, I shouldn't
be in the least surprised to meet a first-class
funeral coming along at any moment."
" You're worse than Billy."
" Billy was partly right. Those old mummies,
skeletons, &c., we saw back there, have all been
carted along this road from wherever we're
going to. That is the reason it is so carefully
cleared."
" Jove ! your right. And we might have come
along this road all the way if we had kept our
eyes open, instead of tearing ourselves to pieces
in the scrub, travelling parallel with it."
" That view of the question did not occur to
me, but it's a perfectly feasible one."
26 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"Bather a surprise for the mourners if we
blunder on to them in the dark to-night."
" Just what we want to avoid. There's some-
thing ahead no white man has yet heard of, and
if we can sneak along without our presence being
suspected, so much the better."
"What do you propose? We can't budge a
step off the track just now, and if unluckily
there happens to be a funeral ceremony on to-
night, there's bound to be a collision."
" We must go on until we come to a piece of
open country, and then pull off and wait for
daylight."
" All serene. But our tracks will tell tales."
" We can't help that, unfortunately."
The conversation had been carried on without
halting, and the march now continued in silence,
until a low whistle from Morton gave the signal
to pull up.
CHAPTER III
A Midnight Halt A Mysterious Procession Sudden
Dispersion and Flight Open Country once more and
another Mystery Ahead.
AS well as could be made out in the gloom
cast by the scrub, they had reached a small
break in it, and Morton wheeling off, the others
followed, and the party dismounted, as the leader
A. MYSTERIOUS PROCESSION. 27
judged, some two hundred yards from the track.
Morton gave his orders in low tones, for the
atmosphere of awe and mystery affected every-
body. There was no grass, so the horses were
simply relieved of their packs and tied to trees;
then the men stretched themselves on their
blankets without making a fire, and, save for
the occasional stamp and snort of a horse, the
scrub was as silent as before the white men
roused the echoes.
Not for long.
It seemed to Brown that he had scarcely
closed his eyes when the camp was aroused by
a distant melancholy cry. No one spoke; all
were too intently engaged in listening. The
cry sounded again, louder, nearer, and in a chorus
of many voices.
"What bad luck," whispered Morton to his
friend. " One day sooner or later and we would
have been right."
Nearer and nearer came the plaintive wailing,
and the gleam of firesticks was visible. It was
a most uncomfortable sensation that our adven-
turers experienced, lying prone and motionless
in the gloomy scrub listening to this weird
procession passing through the desert land. They
were well armed, and confident against any
number of aborigines, but the sights they had
encountered were so much out of the ordinary
bush routine as to make even such old hands
28 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
as Brown and Morton feel slightly nervous.
Charlie was naturally much excited, while Billy
was " larding the lean earth " with the perspira-
tion of abject, superstitious fear.
The party of natives were now opposite to
them, and not very far away, and by the number
of firesticks they judged that there must be
a good many in the company. Every now and
then the wild wail or chant kept breaking out,
and the shuffling noise of their bare feet was
distinctly audible during the silent intervals.
They had almost passed the hidden watchers,
when the procession was interrupted by a sudden
and discordant shout from the leaders. A babble
of voices followed, the firesticks gathered to-
gether for a moment, and were then dashed on
the ground and extinguished. Next came the
noise of feet flying back along the track; these
died rapidly away in the distance, and the scrub
was as silent as before.
"Saw our tracks!" said Brown with a dis-
gusted sigh, breaking the spell that held them
all quiet.
"How could they see our tracks in the dark?"
asked Charlie.
" They could both feel and smell them," re-
turned Morton. "The ground is caked hard
from the last thunder-storm, and our horses
walking one after the other have cut it up soft.
Of course, with their bare feet they could tell
A MYSTERIOUS PROCESSION. 29
the difference at once. The scent, too, would be
as plain as possible at this time in the morning,
even to one of us. What's the time, Brown?"
Brown struck a match.
"Three. It will be breaking day soon after
five. Let's wait till then."
" Why?" demanded Morton. "We might as
well get along while it's cool. There's the re-
mains of a moon just rising."
" Why? Because you think with me that it
was a funeral party. Now, I should like to
know what they did with the body; they never
carried it away with them at that pace."
"Never thought of that," returned Morton.
" Yes, we might pick up some information by
waiting until daylight and seeing what they
threw away. Make a fire, and we'll have break-
fast."
The time soon passed in discussing the strange
scene just witnessed and the probable result of
their trip. Morton reminded Brown of the free-
masons M'Dowall Stuart asserted he met with
amongst the aborigines in the interior, and
Charlie, who had not heard the former conversa-
tion, was enlightened as to the probable meaning
of what had just passed.
As soon as daylight was strong enough the
investigation commenced. Right on the track
where it had been hastily dropped lay the dead
body of a man. A tall old man, fastened on to
30 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
a rude litter of saplings. The forehead was
smeared with red pigment, and on the dusky
breast was a triangle inscribed in white.
Brown gave a low whistle.
"That's a thing I never saw blacks draw
before," he said to Morton.
" Nor I. He's a fine-looking old boy. What
a long white beard he has got for a nigger!"
The corpse was fastened to the litter with
strips of curragong bark; and they were turning
away after noticing these details, when Brown
suggested that they had better move it off the
track.
"You know," he explained, "we might come
bustling back here in a bigger hurry than those
fellows were, and tumble over the old gentleman
in the dark."
The litter and its burden were shifted a few
paces in the scrub, and, full of expectation, the
party resumed their interrupted journey.
The break where they had halted was the
beginning of the outskirts of the scrub; the
country soon became more open, and as it did so
the track they were following grew less marked.
It was still, however, quite plain enough for any
bushman to follow easily. At noon, to the great
relief of the horses, they came to a small pool of
rain-water, and some fairly good grass. Here
they turned out for a long spell
"Question is," said Brown, when the usual
A MYSTERIOUS PROCESSION. 31
discussion commenced, "Where did those nigs
camp? No sign of them here. By the way,
Billy, did you notice any gins' tracks amongst
them?"
" No," returned the boy. " Altogether black-
fellow."
" Must be more water ahead ; and I hope so, for
this won't last another week, and we want some-
thing permanent to fall back on. Now, I'm
going aloft on the look-out," said Morton.
Charlie watched him curiously as he slung the
field-glass over his shoulder, and taking a toma-
hawk proceeded to an exceptionally tall blood-
wood-tree near the camp. At the foot he took
off his boots, and cutting niches in the trunk, as
a blackfellow does when climbing, he was soon
up amongst the topmost branches. Ensconcing
himself firmly, he took a comprehensive sweep
around with the glasses, and then directed his
attention to the westward.
"Below there!" he shouted, after a lengthened
scrutiny.
"Hi, hi, sir!" returned Charlie.
"Brown! Will your long legs bring you up
here safely?"
" Well, I'll try." And in a short time Brown
was up alongside his friend, and a very earnest
discussion followed, extremely tantalizing to
Charlie down below. After taking a compass-
bearing to some distant object they descended;
32 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
and Charlie, who was already barefooted, im-
mediately attempted the ascent, slipping igno-
miniously down after getting up two or three
steps, to the intense delight of Billy. With the
black boy's assistance, however, and much sar-
castic advice from his cousin and Brown, he
managed to reach the first branches, and thence
easily gained the perch Morton had occupied on
the top.
What did he see when he got there?
To the westward the forest soon came to an
abrupt stop, and beyond stretched a great gray
plain, bounded by something that Charlie could
not make out, and which had evidently puzzled
Brown and Morton. It was not water, although
it looked something like it; it was a broad sheet
of pale blue, glistening in places under the sun's
rays, and beyond, above a quivering haze, was a
dark object like a distant ridge.
" What name, Billy?" said Charlie to the black
boy, who had climbed up after him. " Water?"
"Bal" said Billy decidedly. " Water sit down
here, close up," he added, pointing to the edge of
the forest.
"What name, then?" repeated Charlie.
" Mine think it mud, where water bin go bung,"
was the blackf ellow's opinion, and with this they
both descended.
" Well, Charlie, what do you make of it?" asked
Morton.
A MYSTERIOUS PROCESSION.
33
" Billy thinks it's mud where the water has
dried up," returned Charlie, as he had no opinion
of his own to offer.
" And Billy's right, I believe. It must be the
bed of a dry salt lake; but we'll get along to the
edge of the timber and camp."
On the margin of the plain they came to some
fine lagoons, with good grass for the horses, but
nothing could be seen of the mysterious object
ahead, excepting from the top of a tree.
On the banks of the lagoons they found abun-
dant traces of the natives, and it was evidently
a main camping-place on their way to and from
their burial-place. Many of the trees were
marked with triangles, a sign which considerably
puzzled the elder travellers. The open country,
the ample supply of water, and the relief from
the gloomy surroundings of the scrub had restored
the cheerful tone of the party, and imparted a
sense of security to them.
But neither Brown nor Morton were men to
neglect due precautions, now that their presence
was known to the probably hostile inhabitants.
So a watch was kept all night by the three
whites in turn, Billy escaping the vigil, as blacks
are not to be trusted to keep awake.
(M64)
34: THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
CHAPTER IV.
The Limestone Plain The Devil's Tracks A Strange
Mark.
morning found them early on the move,
the night having passed without any alarm,
false or real. They still followed the faint track
leading straight toward the dark ridge they had
seen beyond the blue expanse. This supposed
dry lake had been visible from the camp before
sunrise, but as the sun rose it disappeared, nor
did they again sight it until nearly eight o'clock.
At ten they were close to it, and all doubt as to
its character was set at rest. They pulled up,
not at the edge of a dry salt lake, but of an
unbroken sheet of limestone rock. Nothing was
visible ahead but this stony sea of bluish-gray,
over which a heated haze was undulating. The
dark line beyond, resembling a ridge, had van-
ished, and the wind that blew in their faces
across the surface of this strange plain, was as
hot as though it came from the open door of a
furnace.
Morton turned and rode along the edge of the
rock to where the pad came in, for they had
left the track for the last hundred yards. He
whistled, and the others joined him. The track
1
THE DEVIL'S TRACKS. 35
still continued right on across the rock, but its
course was now indicated by other means. On the
surface of the limestone had been scratched and
chipped with infinite care, an imitation of human
footsteps, or rather more than human footsteps,
for the gigantic tracks were more than twice the
size of a man's, and a stride to correspond was
indicated. Side by side, about six feet apart,
these two awful footsteps disappeared into the
quivering mirage.
"I've seen that mark before on the granite
mounds in Western Australia," said Brown.
" You notice that there are six toes to it. It's
supposed to be the footprint of the devil."
"By Jove, what tedious work it must have
been cutting those marks!" returned Morton.
" They're not lazy beggars ahead of us whatever
else they may be. But what shall we do now?"
" Go back to the lagoons. It's a rattling good
camp, and we have heaps of time before us.
We'll hold a council of war this afternoon and
decide upon some course of action."
"Right," answered Morton. "We shall have
to go slowly and cannily or we shall be getting
into a tight place."
They returned to their former camp, and, as
evening drew on, entered into a discussion as to
their immediate movements.
" Brown, you're the longest, speak first," said
Morton.
36 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" Those beggars are located beyond that lime-
stone rock. Is not that so?"
"Yes."
"They may be the most mild and peaceful
people going, and they may be the most trucu-
lent ruffians. I incline to the latter opinion."
"So do I, but I cannot say why exactly.
They took to their heels quick enough the other
night."
"Oh, any niggers will do that on a sudden
start. However, it's safest to act as though they
were our enemies."
"Decidedly."
" To-morrow we'll go right and left along the
edge of the rock for a few miles on each side
of the track, and see if there's any other track
they use. If there's only the one, why, we know
where to expect them from."
To this Morton agreed, but suggested that two
should follow the track across the rock.
" No, old man, you're too eager," said Brown.
" We're too small a party to afford to split up.
When we go across that rock we must all go,
and take pot luck."
" You're right," agreed Morton. " To-morrow
you and I will go along the edge of the rock.
Charlie, you and Billy will stop and mind camp
and examine all the trees about for marks, in
fact have a good fossick round."
" When we cross the rock we shall have to go
THE DEVIL'S TRACKS. 37
on foot, we can't take the horses across," said
Brown.
" Certainly not, and I doubt if we can cross on
foot in the daytime. We should be baked to
death with the rock underneath and the sun
overhead. We should get no shade to rest under
the whole way across."
" The horses will be safe enough here while we
are away. If the niggers use only the one track,
why, we are bound to meet them."
Another quiet night was passed, although a
watch was kept. In the cool morning Brown
and Morton started across the plain, leaving
Charlie to scour about the camp. Billy, arrayed
in a light and airy costume consisting of a saddle-
strap and a tomahawk, had evidently laid himself
out for a day's pleasurable sport.
"This plain seems fairly well grassed," said
Morton as they rode across. " Wonder how far
it extends?"
" We'll find out before we get back. But coun-
try is not of much value out here just now, no
matter how good it is."
" No, worse luck ; you and I know that to our
cost."
When they reached the rock they separated,
Brown going north and Morton south. Follow-
ing the edge along, without going into all the
dips and bends, Morton went on until he reckoned
he had covered some six miles. The limestone
38 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
rock pursued much the same course to the south-
ward, but the forest and the continuation of the
chain of lagoons at its edge bore in towards the
rock, and it was evident that the two would
meet in time.
Morton rode over to the edge of the timbe^
and found that the water-course there was still
well supplied with occasional pools of water.
He could see no tracks of blacks there, nor were
there any marks on the rock: all was lifeless
and lonely, save for the tireless kites. As he
rode back, however, he caught sight of a bird
high up in the air steadily flying to the west.
He recognized it as an eagle -hawk, and was
astonished to see others following, all flying in
the same direction. Then the discordant note of
a crow came to him, and a flock of the black
creatures flew past, conversing in the peculiar
guttural croak common to crows when on the
wing. They, too, were going across the rock to
the westward.
"Hang me, if there isn't a rendezvous over
there somewhere of all the carrion birds in the
district," said Morton.
He rode on and found Brown at the meeting-
place, he having got back sooner. His experience
had been somewhat similar for the first few
miles; then the country changed, a low stunted
forest obtruded from the east, and the ground
became hard, stony, and barren, save for patches
THE DEVIL'S TRACKS. 39
of spinifex. 1 The limestone rock, too, became
more uneven and broken, and it was evident
that he had approached the verge of the forma-
tion they were then traversing; probably, he
thought, the change would result in a large ex-
panse of desert, spinifex country.
" We could get round that way," he remarked,
" without having to cross this rock."
" Better stick to the track ; then we know we
are going straight to wherever these triangle men
came from," replied Morton.
"Did you see any niggers' tracks?"
" Not a sign of any. I don't think I saw or
heard a living thing of any kind since leaving."
Morton told him about the flight of hawks
and crows he had noticed, and as they rode back
to camp they decided to make an excursion to
the south before tackling the great rock and the
mystery beyond. It was as well to know all
about the country before making their final start;
and, moreover, if the natives came back and saw
their tracks going away south it might throw
them off their guard.
Charlie and Billy had found nothing about
the camp beyond a peculiar mark cut on a tree,
which somewhat differed from the others they
had seen. They had caught some fish in the
largest of the lagoons, and Billy had a fine big
carpet snake roasting in the ashes; for no matter
1 A wiry, prickly grass, useless as fodder.
40 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
how well fed a blackfellow is, he always likes to
revert to his aboriginal delicacies occasionally.
Charlie took them to inspect the new mark,
which was on a large flooded box-tree. It had
been chopped out with a stone tomahawk in the
rugged bark, and must have taken much time
and labour. Both men looked at it from all
points of view without arriving at any con-
clusion; then, just as they were turning away,
Morton exclaimed:
" If I saw that tatooed on a sailor's arm I
should say that it was meant for an anchor."
The two others instantly recognized the re-
semblance, and they all came to the conclusion
that it was a rude attempt to depict that emblem.
"Mystery thickens," said Brown. "Are we
going to reach the much-talked-of inland sea
and find a race of sailor-men in possession?"
"Devilish queer," replied Morton; "it seems
to me the sort of mark an illiterate white man
who had been a sailor would make on a tree.
It's chopped out very neatly, much as a sailor
would do anything of the sort."
" I suppose we shall find out all about it before
we get to the end of this trip," returned Brown.
"Yes, and a good deal more than we now
dream of, I anticipate."
" Did you have a good look to the south and
north when you were up that tree?" asked
Brown.
A LIFELESS SWAMP. 41
"No, I didn't. My attention was at once
taken up by the strange-looking rock ahead of
us."
" So was mine. I think we might go up
another at sundown; we might see something."
When the sun nearly touched the horizon they
ascended the tallest tree in the neighbourhood,
but nothing was discernible southward. To the
north, however, a low range was visible a long
distance away.
A quiet undisturbed night succeeded, and an
early start was made the next morning.
CHAPTER V.
Hot Springs A Lifeless Swamp More Marks of the
Natives.
first six miles being over the country
_ traversed by Morton was naturally un-
interesting. Then the plain grew narrower and
narrower. The chain of lagoons where they had
camped developed into a large water-course, and
the flat limestone rock began to alter its character
and soon merged into a basaltic ridge coming
from the westward. At mid-day the plain was
a thing of the past, and they were now travelling
along a broad water-course, with open forest on
42 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
one side and a rude line of basalt boulders, piled
like a wall, on the other.
At a fair-sized lagoon, thick with water-lilies,
they turned out for their meal.
" Funny," remarked Brown, " how these inland
rivers disappear. This water-course looks big
enough now, but I bet it runs out to nothing
before night."
"Yes; the wet seasons, I suppose, are very
rare, and when one comes the flood-water is
absorbed by soakage and evaporation before it
can cut a continuous channel. You know that
no rivers enter the sea to the south of us."
"I know; it's all a wall of cliffs around the
head of the Great Bight. Was there not some
yarn once about fresh water being obtained
there some distance at sea?"
"I've heard something about it; it was put
down to the discharge of a subterranean river,
but I don't think the fact was ever proved."
"Well, if we find a river of that sort we'll
make a canoe and send Charlie and Billy down
it to explore. What do you say, Charlie?"
" There might be some Jinkarras living down
there," replied Charlie.
"Ever see any Jinkarras, Billy?" asked Morton.
" No. Plenty bin hear 'em," replied Billy.
" I wonder how this yarn of an underground
race, the Jinkarras, originated."
"I can't make out. The noise they hear at
A LIFELESS SWAMP. 43
night that they say is made by the Jinkarras is
made by a bird a kind of quail."
"Well, we must be off; pack up boys," said
Brown.
About four o'clock a dense mass of foliage was
visible ahead, which, as they drew nearer, proved
to be huge paper-bark-trees, with long trailing
branches, like gigantic weeping willows. The
ground around these ancient giants was soft and
spongy, and the bed of the creek was soon lost.
The ground being too soft to allow of the horses
progressing any further, a camp was made and
they were hobbled out.
Leaving Billy to light a fire and mind camp,
the three whites went on foot through this great
white forest. The ground grew swampier as they
proceeded, until at last, when within sight of a
belt of tall reeds, they could proceed no farther.
Moreover, the water was getting uncomfortably
warm.
"Hot soda springs," said Brown; "this accounts
for the growth of these trees. There's an easy
one to climb," pointing to a bending one. " Let's
go aloft and look ahead."
The tree was easy of ascent, and the three
were soon high up amongst the branches. Beyond
the reeds lay a lakelet of clear water, but, save
for the deep fringe of rushes, not a plant of any
sort was visible. No ducks or other aquatic
birds could be seen.
44 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" I guess that water's too warm for anything
to live in it," said Morton.
It was a strange scene; the sun was sinking
low, and anywhere else the place at that time
would have been busy with feathered life, but
here all was lifeless. The lakelet, surrounded
by its border of tall reeds, in which there was
apparently no break, lay there calm and un-
ruffled.
" Let's get back to camp," said Brown. " Looks
as though we'd got into a dead corner of the
world."
Next morning it was determined to follow the
swamp round to the westward to ascertain its
extent. In a mile or two they came to where
the basalt wall apparently ran out in the swamp,
disappearing in a few scattered boulders. Just
beyond this they came to a well-beaten track,
which came round the swamp from the direction
in which they were going and turned off amongst
the basalt. Following this track along, in about
a mile they came on two skeletons lying beside
it. Some dry bits of skin still adhered here and
there on the fleshless bones.
"A nice part of Australia this," remarked
Brown, as they halted and gazed at the poor
remains. " If we're not falling foul of a cemetery
or a funeral, we run against skeletons lying pro-
miscuously about. Wonder what brought them
here."
A LIFELESS SWAMP. 45
"Not want of water at any rate," replied Morton.
"Been a fight, perhaps. They don't seem to
belong to those triangle gentry, at any rate."
"They must have been lying here months,"
answered Brown; "they're past our help any-
way. May as well get on."
Gradually the swamps rounded off to the
southward, and it was evident that there was
no continuation that way. The creek they had
followed from the lagoons had disappeared, as
Brown had predicted. To the south was nothing
but a stony, desert forest of stunted trees, the
ground covered with spinifex. Strange to say,
however, the track that had partly circled the
hot swamp had branched off and headed due
south. There had been some discussion as to
whether they should follow it or not, but, as it
was evident that this track and the one marked
by the devil's footsteps were trending to the
same centre, it was decided to postpone it until
they had solved that mystery first. The swamp
was of such a circumference that it was nearly
sundown when they got back to the site of their
last night's camp, having crossed no outflow from
the swamp anywhere.
In the morning it was thought better to go
back to the old camp at the lagoons and follow
the devil's footsteps, than try to follow the track
amongst the boulders coming from the south.
They arrived there early, and immediately made
46 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
preparations for burying their spare rations,
ammunition, &c. The next few hours were busy
ones. Saddles, rations, spare ammunition, &c.,
were all carefully buried, and the whereabouts
masked by a fire being lit on the top to hide the
disturbance of the earth. They started as soon
as this work was finished, each man carrying
rifle, revolver, ammunition, three days' rations,
quart-pot, and water-bag a fair load for men
always accustomed to riding only. Most devoutly
they all prayed that they would be off the rock
soon after daylight the next morning.
CHAPTER VI
The Night March across the Great Eock Meeting with
the Natives The Secret of the Burning Mountain.
WITH all the despatch they made they did
not reach the edge of the rock before
twelve; but it mattered little, as the surface was
only then getting cool, and would have been un-
bearable any earlier.
Billy was sent first with bare feet, he being
trusted to follow the track by feeling when they
strayed off it, as he would ther cross the rough
surface made by the sculptured f .otprints, the re-
mainder of the limestone being almost as smooth
as marble.
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN AT LAST. 47
It was a weird and weary tramp across this
rock by the light of the stars, with vague dark-
ness all around them. None of them felt inclined
to speak, and an intense silence reigned every-
where. A sickly moon rose just before daylight,
and its faint beams cast the long shadows of the
travellers across the gleaming surface of the
limestone. The thought in the minds of the three
white men was the same what would daylight
show them? Billy plodded along mechanically;
most of the time he was half asleep.
Daylight came at last, and the black line tkat
they had seen from the tree-top gradually came
into view, apparently not far ahead; and each
felt grateful that he had not to encounter the
force of the sun on the face of the naked rock.
When it was broad daylight the dark line
resolved itself under the glasses into a row of
basaltic boulders, with some bushes growing in
their clefts and a bottle-tree here and there on
their summits.
"We shall be there before it is hot," said
Morton thankfully, as he closed the glasses;
" let's push on."
They did so, and before the sun had attained
much power found themselves amongst the
boulders. The track led straight into a gap, and
on one side a huge block of stone, supported by
two others, made a rude cave, under which the
weary men gladly took shelter after their toilsome
48 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
tramp. Evidently it was a halting-place for the
blacks, for the remains of fires were about, and
a supply of firewood, which came in very handy
for the tired men to cook their breakfast with.
A satisfactory meal and a smoke being finished,
the situation was reviewed. Behind them lay
the bare expanse of rock just crossed, and before
them the unknown. Now, too, they would have
to keep a keen look-out for lurking foes, because
in amongst these boulders every step was fraught
with danger, especially as the blacks knew of
their approach; and it was evident that they
were trespassing on tabooed ground. The future
movements of the party were now, as might be
supposed, a matter of serious consideration, and
Brown and Morton were in earnest discussion
when a loud report like a clap of thunder sud-
denly startled the little company to their feet.
A low rumbling followed that seemed to shake
the very rocks. Hurrying outside, nothing was
seen that could possibly have caused the strange
noise; the sky was cloudless, the air still and
sultry.
Suddenly Billy pointed to the westward. "Fire
jump up," he said.
A puff of white smoke, or vapour, was rising,
seemingly only a short distance from them.
Silently they watched it ascend and disperse.
" Blacks here have artillery apparently," said
Brown. " Salute in honour of our arrival."
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN AT LAST. 49
Nothing more following, they returned to the
cave, leaving Charlie at the entrance on the look-
out.
" If these fellows know nothing about the effect
of firearms," said Morton, "we may be able to
establish a funk; they may have heard of them
only from the other tribes."
" I don't think they have much communication
with the other tribes by the look of it, but, if
they live amongst these rocks, what on earth do
they exist on ? for there's no game here."
" Well, all we can do is to keep a sharp look-
out and our powder dry What's up?"
" Here's the corpse!" cried Charlie, falling back
from the entrance in amazement.
Billy gave an awful yell ; the others started to
their feet as a tall native coolly walked into the
cave, and squatted down on the ground. It cer-
tainly was enough to give them all a fright, for the
visitor, in outward appearance, greatly resembled
the dead man left in the scrub. A second glance,
however, showed points of difference, which
proved him to be a denizen of the earth; he was
marked with the white triangle on the breast,
and the red smear on the forehead, but was
naked and unarmed, whilst his manner showed
no trace of fear. Recovering themselves some-
what, Morton lugged Billy forward to see if he
could converse with the new-comer. This pro-
ceeding, however, did not suit their visitor, for he
(M64) D
50 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
addressed a furious tirade at Mr. Billy Button in
some unknown tongue, winding up by violently
spitting at him.
Billy slunk back scared, and the native, rising,
took Brown by the arm and led him to the en-
trance; pointing alternately forward and back-
wards he made signs for them to turn back,
and not go on. Brown returned answer by signs
that they must go on. The blackfellow shook his
head vigorously, and then held up his hand
motioning them to listen. Again the loud re-
port was heard, and a puff of vapour ascended
as before.
To the apparent surprise of the native, the
whites showed no alarm, and Brown taking his
carbine stepped back, and fired it into the
air. The black gave a decided start, and trembled
a little, but stood his ground; then his mind
seemed to change, and, making a sign to Brown
to stay, he strode off and disappeared behind the
surrounding rocks.
" Is he coming back, do you think?" said Brown.
"I think so," replied Morton. "He's a fine
fellow, with plenty of pluck."
"Then well give him twenty minutes' grace
but here he comes, and all his sisters and his
cousins and his aunts."
Sure enough their former visitor appeared,
accompanied by some half-dozen others, similarly
painted and all unarmed. He spoke a few words
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN AT LAST. 51
to them, and pointed towards Brown, upon whom
they gazed curiously.
" Now then, Brown," said Morton, " you're the
star; evidently they want an exhibition."
Brown, who had reloaded his carbine, fired it
in the air again. The fresh arrivals showed
more alarm than the first man had, some of them
squatted hastily down and all started with fear.
" It appears to me, Brown, that they consider
you 'brother belonging' to this noise ahead,"
remarked Morton.
"It looks like it, and we must keep up the
pleasing fiction, for these fellows 'have us on toast'
in amongst these rocks. I wonder how many
more there are round about."
" Let's see if we can go on now/' said Morton.
On Brown indicating their wish to proceed,
the most ready acquiescence was displayed, and
at a few words from the native who had first
arrived the others showed by signs their inten-
tion to carry the strangers' packs.
Before starting, however, names were inter-
changed, that being generally found the easiest
steps towards intimacy. Brown, Morton, and
Charlie (or Sarley) were soon picked up, and the
chief, as he appeared to be, introduced himself as
Columberi, which, of course, was at once turned
into Columbus by Brown, and the oldest black-
fellow amongst the others was named Yarlow.
With Columbus appropriately in the lead, the
52 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
march commenced, the tracks winding in and
out among the rocks in a very intricate fashion.
For nearly five miles they kept on, although in a
straight line they would not probably have
traversed more than two, and at last arrived at
an open space surrounded by bottle-trees, and
from the number of humpies, 1 built of mud and
grass, apparently the head-quarters of the tribe.
Here they halted. About twenty more blacks
were sitting about, who at first made a show of
taking to their heels, but a call from Columbus
brought them back.
Selecting a shady tree, Brown indicated that
their swags should be brought up, and this being
done he remarked:
" What do you say to a feed, and then getting
Christopher here to show us the ropes?"
" Just as well," returned Brown; "we must take
everything as a matter of course, and show no
surprise."
Billy made a fire, and the quarts were put on
to boil, a proceeding which interested the spec-
tators greatly. Brown by signs then invited
Columbus to sit down, and presented him with
a piece of damper thickly coated with sugar, at
the same time eating a piece himself to inspire
confidence.
The native started to eat in a slow and doubt-
1 A native hut built of bark or sticks plastered with mud :
called also a " gunyah " or a " whirlie ".
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN AT LAST. 53
ful manner, but after a bite or two finished it off
with great gusto and indicated a wish for more.
The quarts now bubbled up, and the blacks
with one accord emitted a united "ha!" 1 and
pointed to the westward; evidently the boiling
water bore some resemblance to something in
that direction.
Columbus now described a mark in the dust
like a half-circle, and pointed in the direction
they had come. "He means the horse-tracks
they saw," said Morton, after a pause. He
nodded vigorously to the old man, who continued
his pantomime by lying on his back as though
dead. Morton nodded again and patted the
ground, pointing backwards to indicate that the
corpse was still there.
Columbus then called the other blacks aside,
and after a long talk half a dozen of them drew
off and disappeared amongst the surrounding
boulders.
"We must follow up this burning mountain
business," said Brown, as soon as he had eaten his
dinner; "now old Columbus has disposed of his
private affairs perhaps he will take us there."
" Call him back and let's make inquiries; see
if he'll eat beef."
The chieftain approaching, Brown offered him
a piece of salt beef. He examined it curiously,
1 Wild Australian blacks know nothing of boiling water. They
make water hot by putting hot stones in it.
54 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
and then without any demur ate it in the most
appreciative manner. He then pointed to Charlie,
and made signs as though cutting with a knife,
which for a time were quite unintelligible.
" Blessed if he doesn't mean to ask if you're
good to eat," said Brown at last.
He shook his head, and the native appeared
both surprised and disappointed. On their in-
dicating their wish to proceed in the direction
of the strange reports, he rose and led the way.
The whites only took their carbines, as they felt
assured that as yet their coming was too novel
for the blacks to interfere with their belongings.
They had but a short distance to go. Round-
ing a rugged wall of basalt they saw stretched
before them a singular and striking scene. At
their feet was a large circular shallow depression,
about a mile in circumference, filled with pools
of clear water divided one from another by
narrow ridges of rock. In the centre of this
depression was a hill of small elevation with a
flat top ; not a vestige of green weed was to be seen
about the water, nothing but bare rock. Without
stopping, their guide led the way along one of the
narrow strips of basalt intersecting the water.
" Keep your feet," said Morton, as they followed
him, " for it strikes me that water's scalding hot."
Warned by this, the whites carefully continued
their course to the central hill. Columbus
mounted it, and then pointed down. They were
CANNIBALS. 55
on the edge of a crater. At no great distance
below was a mass of seething boiling mud. The
crater had lip-like fractures in various parts, and
to one of these their guide now directed their
attention, at the same time motioning to them to
stand back from the edge. The water in the
pool at the back of the lip was curiously ruffled;
presently it assumed the appearance of boiling,
and, rising suddenly, poured over the edge of the
crater into the molten mud beneath. A deafening
report followed, and the rocks on which the party
crouched trembled again. Then came a rush of
steam, and all was still once more. By a great
effort the strangers had preserved their coolness,
and looked on the display unmoved; then, in
response to Brown, they discharged their carbines
simultaneously, an act which nearly made Col-
umbus topple into the crater.
CHAPTER VII
Columbus takes a Fancy to Charlie The Secret of the
Limestone Cliff A Feast of Cannibals A White Man
with the Blacks Initiation of Eecruits Charlie makes
a Proposition.
BY the language of signs they were given to
understand that the rocks through which
they had found their way extended in every
56 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
direction. Another low elevation a short distance
away resembling a limestone cliff was noticed,
but about this their guide, who had now re-
covered his composure, could, or apparently
would, not afford them any information. After
a more lengthened examination of the strange
surroundings they returned to their camp in the
open space, which they found deserted by the
natives. Columbus, however, showed no signs
of leaving them, and the whites, with due regard
to strategic purposes, pitched their tent and
made themselves as comfortable as circumstances
allowed.
" The thing that puzzles me," said Brown,
after all arrangements had been completed, " is
What do these natives live on? Columbus,
whom we have feasted on strange dainties,
shows no desire of leaving us; but the others
are all away, evidently in search of grub.
There are no gins visible; perhaps they are
away hunting, but I doubt it, for within a
hundred of miles of here there isn't a feed for
a bandicoot."
"I don't understand it either," returned Morton,
" but we'll stop and see it out, anyway. Charlie,
our friend Columbus has taken quite a fancy to
you ; he can't keep his eyes off you.'
Charlie looked very uncomfortable at the
chaff, and muttered something about a " nigger's
cheek"; but it was quite evident that the native
CANNIBALS. 67
had transferred all his admiration from Brown
to Charlie.
Whilst still talking and discussing the situa-
tion a sound like a distant uproar of voices
became apparent, and Columbus commenced to
evince signs of uneasiness. The sound came
from the direction of the limestone cliffs, and
grew louder and more distinct as they listened.
All the party naturally rose to their feet, although
the native made energetic signs to them to keep
quiet. After a short time the shouting became
stationary, and it was evidently not intended as
an attack upon them, or such loud warning
would not have been given.
" Shall we go and see what's up?" said Morton.
" We'll fix the direction, anyway," returned
Brown, and they proceeded to clamber up one
of the high boulders by which they were sur-
rounded, although Columbus evidently protested
against the proceeding.
From the top of the boulder they could make
out the summit of the limestone cliffs, and ascer-
tained that the uproar certainly came from there,
and, moreover, that the shrill cries of gins mingled
with the many voices. It was well on towards
sundown, and after a short conference Brown
and Morton determined to defer further explora-
tions until the next day, so they returned to
their camp.
Columbus, who seemed much relieved by the
58 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
proceeding, now made signs for Charlie to accom-
pany him in the direction they had been just
looking. At the same time he made it plainly
apparent that Charlie was to come alone.
" I'll go, Frank," he said to Morton. " Let me
go and have all the honour and glory."
Morton and Brown both replied in the nega-
tive, and Brown intimated to Columbus that
to-morrow Charlie should go, but now it was
nearly night and he wanted a sleep. This
seemed to satisfy the blackfellow, who evidently
wanted to get away himself, and presently, as
soon as he thought the attention of the party
was not directed towards him, he disappeared as
mysteriously as he had arrived.
"I have not got to the bottom of this little
affair yet," said Morton; "but I think we shall
to-night. What do you say to paying a visit to
these cliffs as soon as it is pitch dark I have
the bearing?"
"The very thing I was going to suggest.
Charlie, it strikes me that our new friend wants
to make long pig of you."
"What's that?" asked Charlie.
" Well, a favourite dish amongst some natives
who have an acquired taste for human flesh."
"Do you think he's a cannibal?" said the boy,
rather aghast.
" I should be sorry to slander a stranger, but
it certainly looks something like it."
CANNIBALS. 59
As soon as it was quite dark the party set out
on their way to the cliffs, which they judged to
be about a mile distant; it was a difficult matter
shaping a course by the stars amongst the gloom
cast by the surrounding boulders, but an occa-
sional murmur of sound helped them on, and
after scrambling and twisting about they found
themselves near the low cliffs. Here Billy was
told to strip and reconnoitre, and his black figure
was lost amongst the rocks almost before he
seemed to have made a step. He was absent
nearly half an hour; then a subdued whistle
announced his return, and in a low voice he
communicated to Morton the result of his in-
vestigations.
About four or five hundred yards from
where they were waiting there was a cave
in the cliff, and the blacks it appears were in
there. Billy had gone close to the entrance, but
could see only a light in the distance, for, accord-
ing to him, " hole bin go long way ".
Under Billy's guidance they soon reached the
cave entrance, and found it to be a kind of
tunnel evidently leading to a large cave, for a
red glare of firelight came round an angle, and
the sound of many chattering voices was audible.
"Shall we go on?" said Morton in a whisper.
"No, wait a minute," replied Brown; "it
strikes me there's another entrance to this place;
they must have a lot of fire going, but yet the
60 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
place is not full of smoke. I can smell the fire,
but that's all. I think there must be an opening
in the top; let's send Billy up to see."
The face of the cliff was easily climbed, being
mostly detached rocks that had fallen down, and
very soon Billy came back and reported that
" fire come up alonga top ".
One after the other the adventurers ascended,
and found themselves on a rocky plateau full of
fissures and holes, through some of which a
bright light was streaming. Approaching this
portion carefully on their hands and knees,
they soon found a fissure through which they
could gaze with safety on one of the strangest
scenes ever witnessed in Australia.
The cavern below them was seemingly of some
size, and was well lighted by a number of fires,
the smoke from which somewhat annoyed the
unseen spectators. A far larger number of
blacks were assembled than had been visible
before, and many of them were armed and
painted, being also marked with the red smear
and white triangle. One large group was com-
posed of some twenty or thirty young men and
women; they were huddled together, apparently
much frightened, and had no marks whatever
upon their bodies.
Columbus was soon recognized squatting at
one of the fires with some of the other old men,
and, like all but the group of boys and girls,
CANNIBALS. 61
busily engaged in eating. Morton felt his arm
clutched suddenly and tightly, and Brown
hoarsely whispered in his ear:
"It is meat they are eating; but what meat?"
Morton was struck with horror as he listened,
and the truth flashed across his mind. It was
a feast of cannibals they were overlooking.
The armed natives had just returned from a
foray, and the trembling group in the corner
were prisoners destined to death.
An awful feeling of horror came over the
whole party as they realized their situation and
possible fate. In a wilderness of savage rocks,
surrounded by an expanse of desert, almost in
the hands of some fifty or sixty fierce cannibals
no wonder the first impulse of each was to
slip quietly back the way he had come under
cover of the night, and leave the natives to
their former obscurity.
Their natural audacity, however, soon returned.
At present they were masters of the situation;
with their breech-loaders they could shoot down
a score of the natives, helpless in the cavern
below, if so inclined. But, with all their horror
of the scene, affairs did not seem to justify
armed intervention just then.
Contenting themselves with being spectators
only, they watched the doings in the cave, at
times having to stifle a cough brought on by
a puff of smoke from the burning wood fires.
62 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
For a time the repast below went on with the
usual accompaniments of a blacks' camp, but as
it came to an end it was evident that some
extraordinary occurrence was going to take
place. Gradually the old men mustered together
around Columbus, and the other blacks pro-
ceeded to combine all the fires into one large one
near the wall of the cavern. The added blaze
gave to view a huge figure on the rock; it was
the semblance of a human form, but the head,
instead of being represented round, was gro-
tesquely shaped liked a triangle. At the foot of
the painting was a rock, and while the rank and
file of the natives grouped themselves in a circle
around the fire, Columbus and some others
retired into the darkness out of sight of the
watchers. The chant of a corroboree now com-
menced, and the blacks slowly circled round the
fire for a short time, suddenly ceasing and break-
ing into a half ring, with the open part towards
the grim figure painted on the wall. Then
Columbus and the others appeared, supporting
between them a striking and venerable figure
an old, old man, with snow-white hair and beard,
bent so double that, as he hobbled along sup-
porting himself on two short sticks, he appeared
like some strange animal walking on four legs.
This decrepit being was carefully helped and
guided to the stone beneath the figure, and
seated thereon; then the others squatted on the
CANNIBALS. 63
ground, the blacks in the half ring remaining
quietly standing.
The old man seated on the block was now
full in view of the whites above, and the brilliant
rays of the fire fell directly on him. Brown
and Morton turned to each other with the same
smothered exclamations on their lips:
"By Jove, it's a white man!"
Almost as dark as the savages around, painted
like them with a hideous red smear on the fore-
head and a white triangle on the breast, the ex-
perienced whites yet felt sure that before them
they saw one of their own race. Apparently
the venerable being was either blind or nearly
so, and he kept turning his face restlessly from
side to side. From the half circle of blacks then
arose a shout or chant that sounded like the
repetition of "Mur! Fee! Mur! Fee!"
"Hullo! we're amongst countrymen," whis-
pered Brown; " that sounds awfully like Murphy."
A terrible noise now commenced like a hundred
mad gongs let loose. Four blacks came forward,
beating furiously with clubs on what appeared
to be sheets of metal. At the sound the old man
on the rock smiled and leant forward, and,
stretching forth his trembling hands, appeared
to say something.
At this Columbus arose, and, followed by the
gong-beaters, went over to the throng of trem-
bling captives. After a short inspection he
64 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
selected a young gin and pulled her along by
the hand towards the old man, followed still by
the gong-beaters. The poor wretch seemed stu-
pefied with fear, and when in front of the stone
she sank down, trembling visibly. Columbus
drew back, and the gong-beaters, dancing madly
round, made a still more deafening din. Suddenly
one of them, instead of striking his gong, dealt
the unfortunate creature a terrible blow on the
head, the other gong-beaters followed his exam-
ple, and in an instant the wretched gin lay dead
on the ground.
The effect of this scene on the whites above
was maddening. Charlie had his gun to his
shoulder, but Morton stopped him in time.
The gin was killed before interference was
possible.
"Come away," said Brown; "let's have a con-
fab. I'm sick of watching those brutes."
They scrambled away a short distance, and
after a pause Brown spoke.
" We've got our work cut out, there's no doubt
about that. We must find out all about that
white man if possible, and we must release those
poor devils and give these cannibals a lesson."
"In justice to our friend Columbus," said
Morton, " let me remark that ' these cannibals '
are only following up what they have been taught;
they have no horror of the thing like we have.
At the same time, the man who lifts his hand
CANNIBALS. 65
or nulla nulla against a woman is unworthy
fche name of a British sailor, &c. &c."
"Are you convinced that that is a white man?"
said Charlie.
"Yes," replied Brown; "but who he is is
another question. He appears to be blind, deaf,
and imbecile. I suppose we must fall back upon
Leichhardt"
"He's been a big man when younger, and
erect," said Morton; " far bigger than Leichhardt
was. However, we'll suppose it to be one of
his party he looks old enough."
Brown gave vent to a low whistle.
" By jingo, supposing that was ' Murphy ' they
were shouting. I believe there was a man of
that name in the lost party."
"We shall find out, I hope, soon. Meantime,
what next?"
"I know," said Charlie; "let's go back to
camp. You promised Columbus I should go
with him to morrow. Well, I'll go and find out
all about it."
Morton put his hand on Charlie's shoulder.
"It's a real plucky bid, my boy, after what
we've just seen; but do you think I could let
you go? Why, you'd be cooked and eaten in no
time."
"Hold on!" said Brown; "I'm full of ideas
just now; let me think this one out; there's
something in what Charlie says."
(M64) E
66 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" Now, oracle, as soon as you're ready," returned
Morton.
"Well, I may be right or wrong, but my
notion is that Columbus does nob want to eat
Charlie. Why, they've got enough rations for
a month. I think that they keep this old man
as a sort of Fetich, and that Columbus and
a few of the knowing old fellows see that he
must soon die. Now they want Charlie to take
his place."
Brown paused triumphantly.
" I verily believe you've hit it," said Morton.
" You ought always to live here, considering the
amount of intellect you are developing."
At this moment a renewed din once more
pealed up from the cave, and the party crawled
back to find out the cause. The gong-beaters,
Columbus, and his privy councillors were pa-
rading the captives, and the spectators shuddered
as they looked down upon hideous remains of
the late feast scattered about the sandy floor of
the cavern. This time a fine-looking young
man was selected and marched up to the vener-
able figure on the stone. The gong-beaters fell
back, and Columbus and his companions pro-
ceeded to smear the youth's forehead with red
pigment, and marked the cabalistic white triangle
on his breast. He was then led away to a dark
corner out of sight of the watchers.
Brown muttered a deep oath.
CANNIBALS. 67
" That's what has been puzzling me," he growled
to Morton, "how they kept their numbers up;
of course they recruit from the best-looking
prisoners."
"See! they are going to select another,"
whispered his friend. "Bet you two figs of
tobacco they choose that tall fellow with his hair
tied in a knot."
"Done! I'll back the nuggety fellow along-
side him."
Brown lost, the tall fellow being marched out
to receive the marks of the cannibalistic brother-
hood.
Columbus and the others now assisted the old
man to hobble away, and the blacks squatted
down by the fire and relit fresh ones about the
ground.
"Get back to camp," said Morton; "the circus
is over for to-night."
Scrambling down the cliff, and using every
precaution, the party soon regained their camp,
which they found as deserted as they left it.
68 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
CHAPTER YIIL
Charlie as Decoy Death of the old White Man The
Fight in the Cave The Catastrophe.
fTURED out with their exertions and the con-
JL tinned night work the party slept soundly,
and awoke at dawn to find the camp as calm and
silent as if no such tragedies as they had wit-
nessed were ever enacted in the neighbourhood.
"Terribly sultry, is it not?" said Morton; "I
suppose it is because these rocks retain the heat
so."
" It seems in the air. Look what a haze there
is. I don't think I ever felt it so hot at this
time of day. What do you say to a walk to the
crater after breakfast?"
Charlie called out just then that the meal was
ready, and during its progress the plan of action
for the day was discussed and agreed upon.
On arriving at the crater they found it in a
great state of activity, most of the pools were in
violent commotion, and constantly overflowing
into the crater, causing a succession of reports.
Returning to the camp they found that Colum-
bus and two or three of the old men had arrived,
all looking as mild and gentle as if they habit-
ually lived upon milk and water.
"Look at the old scoundrel," said Morton;
THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE. 69
" his mouth is watering to see us roasting on the
coals/'
" I think he only wants to get rid of us and to
induce us to leave Charlie behind. Now let's
try him," returned Brown.
Preparations were then apparently made for
departure, Charlie intimating to Columbus that
he intended to go with him. The native appeared
hugely delighted, and when the time for depar-
ture arrived neither he nor the others could re-
strain their expressions of joy. With their swags
on their shoulders Morton, Brown, and Billy
strode off along the track by which they had
come, ostentatiously waving their hands to
Charlie.
No sooner, however, were they hidden from the
camp than Morton and Billy slipped aside amongst
the rocks, whilst Brown plodded steadily on,
making as much noise as possible. For nearly a
quarter of a mile he kept his course, and then
stepped on one side and stood quietly behind
a boulder. After five minutes' waiting the sound
of footsteps was heard, and a native came along,
evidently following the track to make sure that
the white men left the place, for he was unarmed
and alone. He was close up before he saw
Brown, and then with a frightened cry sprang
away; but he was too late. Brown had hold of
him, and exerting all his uncommon strength
threw him heavily down amongst the rocks,
70 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
where he lay stunned and quiet. Brown waited
patiently for some time, but nothing could be
heard; evidently one native only had been sent
to watch them away.
Leaving his swag in a secure hiding-place,
Brown then cautiously directed his course towards
the limestone cliff, using every precaution to
escape being seen. He arrived in sight of the
mouth of the cave after a toilsome journey, and
after cautiously reconnoitring gave a low whistle.
There was no answer, but voices could be heard
approaching, and peering carefully out Brown
saw Columbus, Charlie, and three other old men
emerge from among the rocks and enter the
cave. At the same moment a low whistle sounded
near him, to which he instantly replied, and in
a few minutes Morton and Billy came creeping
silently along and joined him.
" It's splendid," said Morton. " Columbus took
Charlie on one side amongst the rocks, then he
gave a signal and all the blacks came along the
track and squatted down in the open space where
we were camped. Columbus and three old men
then went away with Charlie, whom they care-
fully kept hidden, and I think those are all we
have to deal with ; so come along, for I can't bear
to let that boy stop alone with them long,
although I think he's safe enough."
" We'll just rush the four of them, and then
take our time examining the place and the white
THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE. 71
man is that it?" said Brown; "but how we're
to get away afterwards I can't make out."
"We must trust to chance and our rifles; I
think we can manage. But come quick."
Noiselessly they stole along the narrow entrance
that led into the inner cave, and cautiously peered
in to be sure of their ground before making their
attack; the prisoners were there and the three
old men, but Columbus and Charlie were absent.
" Quick!" whispered Brown, and sprang forward
on to one, while Morton felled the other with a
nulla nulla 1 he had picked up. The third made
a bolt for the entrance, uttering a shrill yell as
he did so, but Billy, whether through sudden
fright or not, fired his carbine at him and the
black dropped dead.
Startled by the yell and report, Columbus
came rushing from a dark corner of the cave;
his eyes were flashing, and all the cannibal in his
nature seemed aroused.
"Hit this fellow on the head!" roared Brown,
releasing his struggling prisoner and grappling
with the new foe.
Morton dealt the native a stunning blow with
the waddy, 1 and then turned to assist his com-
rade. Strong as Brown was, it would have been
hard work for him to subdue the infuriated Co-
lumbus without assistance. Between them they
got him down and bound him with straps.
1 A native club of hard wood.
72 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"Now for Charlie!" cried Morton, turning in
the direction of the dark corner. "Something
must have happened to him."
"I'm all right, old man; come with me." And
Charlie showed himself at the entrance of another
and inner cave.
First stopping to tell Billy to wait and watch
the prisoners, and shoot them if they attempted
to escape, the two friends followed their young
companion, leaving a strange scene behind them
Billy Button on guard at the entrance of the
passage, the savages prostrate on the ground,
and the captives for the cannibal feast, who had
preserved a frightened apathy throughout, still
huddled together.
In a smaller cave than the one they had just
quitted, lighted like it through fissures from
above, the three whites found the old man seated
on the sandy floor, gazing with his half sightless
eyes at the unaccustomed figures, for thus much
could he apparently discern. In a hasty whisper
Charlie confided to them that he had been speak-
ing to him, and thought he could make him hear.
" Try again," said Morton eagerly.
Charlie stooped down and shouted in the old
man's ear, "Englishman! White man!"
A faint gleam of intelligence seemed to illu-
minate the poor creature's face, and he pointed
eagerly forward with trembling hands. The
friends followed the direction of his hands, and
THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE. 73
saw a heap of objects piled in a dusky corner of
the cavern, and Brown strode forward to examine
them. The attention of the other two was con-
fined to the ancient white man, who seemed
strangely moved. He tried to rise and speak, but
could only struggle ineffectually. It was awful
to watch his convulsed features, and think what
secrets he carried hidden in his breast, secrets
that time had forbidden him to reveal. At last
with panting effort he half rose up, and with a
quavering hoarse voice cried distinctly:
"Yes! Englishman! White man!" and with a
choking gasp fell back dead.
Awe-struck and startled the whites looked at
the body of the unfortunate man who had
dragged out such a long term of existence
amongst savages. Not a doubt was in their
minds but that they were gazing on one of the
survivors of Leichhardt's lost party, whose fate
had long been such a mystery. Now the very
shock of their coming seemed to have shaken the
last sands of life out, and he had died before
their eyes with the story of the past untold.
" Look!" said Charlie, stooping gently over the
body and indicating the swarthy breast.
There, almost undecipherable by reason of the
darkened colour of the skin, was the tatooed
mark of a rude anchor.
Suddenly their meditations were interrupted
by a series of frantic yells from the outside cave,
74 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
and the report of a rifle. Rushing out, the cause
was instantly explained. Billy's attention had
wandered to one of the lady captives, and
Columbus had, unobserved by him, freed himself
from the hastily- tied straps. The first thing
Billy knew about it was a blow from a club,
and the back view of a figure flying up the
entrance-passage, at whom he hastily and vainly
fired, as was pretty evident by the fierce shouts
of Columbus outside, calling his comrades to
him.
"Get you're cartridges ready; we must fight
for all we're worth," cried Brown.
Almost as he spoke there was a rush of flying
feet and a roar of voices at the entrance.
"Fire like blazes!" ordered Morton, setting an
example, which was followed by the others, until
the white smoke nearly filled the cavern. Madly
and fanatically the natives dashed up the narrow
passage; but with four breech-loaders playing on
them, the terrible, unknown lightning and deaf-
ening thunder smiting their foremost down, two
and three at a time, the attempt was hopeless;
they fell back, and for a moment or two there
was silence.
"Top! Top! Look out!" suddenly screamed
Billy, and none too soon.
Clambering up the cliff the blacks were on the
plateau forming the roof of the cave, and were
forcing their way down through the many cracks
THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE. 75
and fissures. Hastily abandoning their position,
the whites had scant time to escape into the open
air over the bodies o those they had shot down.
Here, to their astonishment, they found them-
selves unopposed by the cannibals, who had all
made for the top of the cliff to gain entrance into
the cave.
"What's up, Brown?" cried Morton; "you
look like a ghost ! Are you hit?"
" No, I don't think so, but I feel queer, and
you look sick. For Heaven's sake come over to
the rocks, quick!"
An awful feeling of nausea and giddiness
suddenly and strangely attacked them all. Reel-
ing to the rocks in front of the cavern they
threw themselves down in what shade they
could find, utterly regardless of their enemies.
The air was pulsating with fiery heat, the
reports from the crater followed each other with
scarce any interval, and the earth seemed rock-
ing beneath them. From the mouth of the
cavern issued a melancholy wail, the death-chant
over the dead white man.
By a great effort Morton rallied himself, for it
suddenly flashed across him what was going to
happen.
"Come on!" he shouted, staggering to his feet
and making to where an overhanging boulder
afforded some slight shelter. With difficulty the
others followed him. As they crouched down,
76 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
completely unmanned, they felt the ground
tremble violently; then came a terrific report,
as if the very rocks were rent asunder, and
the air was filled with blinding steam and scald-
ing mud.
Dead silence reigned for nearly ten minutes,
then Brown gave a deep sigh and raised his
head.
"All aboard!" he cried out. "Anybody hurt?"
One by one they answered, stood up, and
looked around.
"Pretty warm while it lasted," said Morton;
"that's an experience one does not get every
day. Those fellows in the cavern were best off."
" Were they ?" cried Brown excitedly. " Great
Scott! Look there!"
He pointed to the brow of the cliff, and they
all saw what had happened. The mouth of the
cavern had disappeared, and the shape of the
cliff was changed. The earth-tremor they had
just experienced had brought down the roof of
the cave, and their late enemies and their
wretched captives lay buried beneath countless
tons of rock.
The death- wail they had heard had been the
death- wail of a whole tribe. The cannibals and
their victims were in one common tomb.
" And the secret of that white man lies buried
there too," said Morton, after a long pause.
" No, I hope not," replied Brown. " I brought
THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE. 77
something away from that heap the old man
pointed to;" and from the bosom of his shirt he
drew out an old-fashioned leather pocket-book.
No one was anxious to examine the contents
just then; they were all in a hurry to get back
to camp and quench their thirst, and away from
the scene of their late adventure. No apparent
change had taken place in the surroundings
of their camp, and they made a fire and sat
down to rest and eat.
" Poor old Columbus!" said Morton. " I cannot
help feeling sorry for the old ruffian. He was
a real plucky fellow. Do you remember how
coolly he walked in to us the morning we got
here?"
"Yes, and after all we had no business
according to their ideas to interfere with their
little rites and ceremonies. They treated us in
a friendly fashion."
" After all, however, things turned up trumps
for us. We would not have had the ghost of a
show in a fight amongst these boulders. No, we
must thank that earth-tremor for being alive
now."
After their meal was over and the four some-
what rested, Morton proposed a stroll to the
crater to see how it had fared, for not a single
report had been heard since the one accompany-
ing the eruption of mud.
A wondrous change had taken place, they
78 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
found. The crater, or what they had taken for
one, had subsided, and over its site now flowed
an unbroken sheet of water. The mud on the
boulders and the turbid condition of the water
were the only signs of the late convulsion of
nature.
" And so," said Brown, " the burning mountain,
such as it was, is gone for good, and we are the
only white men living who have seen it, who
will now ever see it."
" That's so," commenced Morton, when he was
interrupted by a footstep from behind. They all
turned hastily.
Scarred, bleeding, and burnt, a most miserable
object, there stood Columbus, the only survivor of
his tribe. He looked abjectly and imploringly at
the whites apparently it was to their power he
attributed the disaster that had happened, and
came forward with a crushed and broken air,
gazing woefully at the space where the crater
had been.
Brown beckoned, and the blackfellow came up
to them.
Just then Charlie and Billy called out loudly
that the water was sinking. It was true: the
muddy water was rapidly falling, and a whirl-
pool was forming in the middle, as though some
cavity in the earth had been opened by the late
convulsion. Silently they all watched the water
as it swirled round quicker and quicker, and a
THE FIGHT IN THE CAVE. 79
harsh scream went up from it. In less than half
an hour the hole was empty, save for a misty
vapour that arose. This cleared away, and the
bottom of the hole lay bare a chaotic jumble
of boulders coated with mud, and in the centre a
dark rift, as though the crater formation had
sunk down bodily.
"Anyone feel inclined to go down there?" said
Morton.
"Not just at present," replied Brown; "we'll
let it cool off a bit first."
The disappearance of the water seemed to put
the final blow on the shattered Columbus. He
followed them readily to the camping-ground,
where they gave him some food, which he ate
ravenously, although it made the whites shudder
to see him, when they remembered what his last
meal had been.
In spite of what they had gone through, they
were all too anxious to get out of the gloomy
desert of barren rocks to defer their departure,
and at sundown they started back for the lagoons.
The ex-chief accompanied them, as they thought
they could make him useful in furthering their
future discoveries.
They arrived at their camp early the next day
tired out, but right glad to get back to more cheer-
ful surroundings. Their horses were feeding
quietly about the place, having enjoyed a better
time of it than their masters, and everything else
80 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
was just as they had left it. They endeavoured
to extract from Columbus the story of his escape,
and after much misunderstanding managed to
worry out, that when he found the white man
dead he thought that the other white men had
killed him, and rushed out after them. As soon
as he got outside he was struck down and knew
no more, excepting that all the others must have
been buried under the fall of rock.
" How about those fellows who were sent back
after the corpse?" suddenly said Morton.
Further questioning elicited from Columbus that
six men had gone back, and by the signs he used
it was evident that they had not yet returned.
"By Jove, I never thought of them!" said
Brown. "Lucky they did not come along and
spear our horses while we were away."
CHAPTER IX.
Deciphering the Contents of the Pocket-book An Ex-
citing Discovery Another Survivor of Leichhardt's
Party, perhaps still living with a Tribe to the West-
ward Charlie makes another Proposal.
AS their camp was in every way a good one,
and they wanted leisure to decide on their
future movements, they determined to remain
where they were for a few days.
AN EXCITING DISCOVERY. 81
Brown and Morton set themselves to sort out
the contents of the old pocket-book, and Charlie
and Billy went fishing and shooting, diversifying
their sport with attempts at teaching Columbus
to ride.
The pocket-book was found to contain many
pages of faded writing, which would evidently
take some time to decipher. Some parts were
still legible enough, others had suffered mutilation
and damage from water and smoke. Fortunately
the handwriting appeared to be that of an educa-
ted man, so that once they got accustomed to it
they would be able to piece it together with a
fair amount of ease.
It took them nearly all day to sort the leaves
out into the proper sequence of dates, and in
doing so they gained a rough idea of the con-
tents. They found that the journal was written
by one of three survivors of Dr. Leichhardt's
party, named Stuart. He and two others (Kelly
and Murphy) had been living for some time
with a tribe of friendly blacks to the westward.
Kelly had been killed during a fight with the
cannibal tribe whose annihilation they had wit-
nessed. The journal recorded up to the death
of Kelly and a few weeks beyond, but gave no
clue to the subsequent life or fate of the sur-
vivors. One of them, Brown and Morton agreed,
was the old white man who had died in the cave,
but they did not believe that he was the writer
(M64) F
82 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
of the journal. It was more likely to have been
written by Stuart, and the fate of this man
greatly excited their curiosity and sympathy.
Was he still living with the friendly tribe to the
westward?
This question, they felt with sorrow, must be
answered in the negative. The presence of his
companion, the old white man, evidently a
prisoner amongst the cannibals for years, and the
strangely preserved unfinished journal, pointed
conclusively to another fight, the probable death
of Stuart, and the capture of Murphy.
"But," suggested Morton hopefully, "those
captives they brought in possibly came from
this friendly tribe, which proves that they are
still in existence. Why should not Stuart be
yet amongst them?"
"I hope so, but cannot think it likely," said
Brown. " What sort of a man should you think
him to be by the rough idea we have of his
journal?"
" A good, self-reliant man."
"Exactly. And I think that if he was still
alive he would have trained his tribe up to fight
these cannibals, and probably have wiped them
out before now and rescued his comrade."
"I must confess that your reasoning sounds
conclusive enough, but I won't give up the hope
of finding him alive."
" Nor I, although it is hoping against hope."
AN EXCITING DISCOVERY. 83
" We must try and find out from Columbus
whether this last batch of victims came from
Stuart's tribe; he might know whether he is
dead or alive."
That evening Columbus, who had had several
spills during his riding-lessons, much to Billy's
delight, was interrogated about the tribe to the
westward. It came out that there were two
tribes which the cannibals harassed, one to the
south and one to the west. To the north Colum-
bus intimated that there were no natives. The
last raid had been made on the tribe to the
westward, who lived by a lake. Further ex-
amination elicited the fact that Murphy had
been brought from there a long, long time ago;
also, that another white man was there who had
killed a lot of cannibals and frightened them;
but that was also long ago, and now they had
been there two or three times and not seen him.
They learnt also that he went about everywhere,
for he was with the tribe to the south one time
when they went there, and had killed some of
them there. The southern tribe lived near a
mountain.
This was the extent of the information which,
after much puzzling on both sides, was gleaned
from the cannibal chief.
It rather complicated matters. Was Stuart to
the west or south? Which way would they go
first? On going into the subject again it appeared
84 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
that the way to the south was the easier; to
the west, as was evident by Stuart's journal,
a long stage of dry desert country had to be
crossed.
" At any rate," said Morton, " we have a couple
of days to think it over. We must make a legible
transcription of that journal, and I propose that
we make two copies; I will keep one, Charlie
another, and you, Brown, stick to the original.
This will ensure us somewhat against accident."
"Can I go and explore that hole where the
crater disappeared while you're busy at that?"
said Charlie.
"Go by yourself?" asked Morton.
" No. I'll take Billy and Columbus."
"And supposing these missing men, the six
sent to take the corpse to the cemetery, turn up
while you are in amongst the rocks? What
chance would you and Billy have, especially if
Columbus went over to their side?"
" I'd take care Columbus didn't turn traitor,"
said Charlie viciously.
"What do you say, Brown?" inquired Morton.
" Shall we let Charlie go?"
" How do you propose getting down the hole?"
asked Brown.
" We can climb down," returned Charlie.
"I don't think you'll find either Billy or
Columbus go far with you," said Morton. " If
we had any sort of a rope I should not mind,
AN EXCITING DISCOVERY. 85
but there's nothing but the tent-line, and that's
not strong enough."
" I'll take great care," pleaded Charlie.
" No doubt you will, but if you make a slip
and flop down some thirty or forty feet, no
amount of care will get you back again with
sound bones."
Charlie looked unconvinced.
"We could keep a look-out for the absent
natives," said Brown. " They are bound to come
along this track, I suppose."
"Could not Columbus make some sort of
a mark to stop them?"
"I'm afraid not. Blacks can communicate
in some way you have seen their 'yabber-
sticks ', I suppose, but I don't think we could
make Columbus understand what we wanted,
nor do I suppose he would do it if we could."
" Strange how they can communicate, though.
The time Faithful's party were murdered in
Victoria, the blacks in the settled districts knew
of it long before the whites did."
"Well, can I go or not?" demanded Charlie.
" I'll sleep on it," replied Morton. " I think
you can take care of yourself, and I can trust
Billy as far as one can trust a blackfellow. But
remember, I am responsible for you, and if any-
thing happened to you I should be to blame."
With this Charlie had to content himself until
the next morning.
86 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Morton and Brown stopped up late, smoking
by the fire.
" Shall you let the boy go?" asked Brown.
" I think so, but I'm doubtful of those fellows
behind; they might slip past us in the dark and
fall foul of Charlie when he was not expecting
them. If they had fair play Charlie and Billy
could hold their own, but they might take them
at a disadvantage in amongst those boulders."
At this moment a wailing cry in the distance
made them both start. The cry exactly re-
sembled the mourning lamentations they had
heard in the scrub.
" That settles one part of the question," said
Brown. " Those fellows are on their way back.
Kick old Columbus up and get him to answer
them."
Morton promptly roused the slumbering chief-
tain, and when he heard the approaching cry he
at once answered it. Then he went out to meet
them. Apparently he soon told them all about
the catastrophe that had taken place, for pre-
sently a great cry went up. Columbus soon
after appeared, leading them into the firelight.
Six truculent-looking ruffians they were, but it
was evident that Columbus had impressed them
with a due respect for the power of the whites,
to whose anger he attributed the misfortune
that had befallen their tribe, for they all wore
a very humble and downcast air.
THE MISSING EXPEDITION. 87
Charlie, who had come out of the tent on
hearing the noise, gave them some food, and they
made a fire apart and squatted beside it, Colum-
bus being cautioned against allowing them to
sneak off during the night. As the blacks were
unarmed, and they now had all the survivors
under their direct observation, no watch was
kept, and the late enemies soon slept soundly
without any misgivings.
CHAPTER X.
Stuart's Journal News of the Missing Expedition-
Charlie Departs.
FXT morning Morton told Charlie that, as
the natives had turned up, he could go and
explore the site of the crater, but he must be
back within three days. Columbus was made
to understand that the six blacks were to remain
in the camp, otherwise they would share the
fate of their countrymen. As there was a good
supply of game, fish, ducks, and pigeons, they
could easily live without trespassing on the
rations of the whites. As Charlie was not to
leave before an hour or so before sundown, he
had ample time to make his preparations. Mean-
time the others went seriously to work tran-
88 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
scribing the journal, which took them the greater
part of the day.
The result of their labours was as follows:
Stuart's Journal.
"September, 1848. We have been fortunate
in striking a well- watered river, but " (Here
there was a portion mutilated.)
"September 12. Still these aimless journeys
to the westward, across plains, barren and water-
less, and which are so loose and cracked that
every time we make an attempt we lose some
of our animals. Fortunately, we have this fine
river running north and south to fall back on.
The men are very discontented, and the prospect
ahead is anything but bright.
"September 16. Two more horses knocked
up by this obstinate pushing into an impassable
desert. Klausen and I must remonstrate seri-
ously to-night.
" September 18. Thank Heaven, we managed
to make the Doctor see his folly, and we are
now on the move north to get on to his old track
and work round that way. Everything going
on much smoother.
"September 20. Country still well watered,
and travelling easy; expect soon to " (Here
the journal was undecipherable to the end of the
page, and the succeeding one was dated more
than a month ahead.)
THE MISSING EXPEDITION. 89
"November 2. We are still on the Doctor's
first track round the foot of the Gulf; but
although there is ample feed and water our
horses are falling away, and do not look as well
as they did in the dry country.
"November 3. Had some trouble with the
natives yesterday when crossing a small river.
We had to fire twice at them before they ran
away. Klausen was speared in the arm with
a barbed spear, which had to be cut out."
(Here there was another gap where the journal
had been mutilated.)
"December 15. We are still camped on the
river, which the Doctor called ' The Roper ' on
his first trip. Klausen's arm prevents our mov-
ing. Inflammation has set in and I am afraid he
will die. Blacks very troublesome.
"December 16. Klausen died last night; we
buried him this morning. We now leave the
Doctor's old Port-Essington track and follow
this river up, south and west.
"December 20. Getting into dry country again,
and the scrub is becoming very bad. We are
scarcely able to force a way through on foot "
(Here, for many pages, the journal was so
mutilated and discoloured by water that only an
occasional line was intelligible. These seemed to
point to the party being constantly baffled by
scrub and dry country; and also that some of
them were attacked by scurvy.)
90 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"You've been in Queensland, Brown?" said
Morton when they arrived at this stage in their
transcription. " How do you follow out this
journal?"
"As plain as print. Stuart's journal at least
the part we have commences on what is now
known as the Diamantina River, I think. The
great dry plains he speaks of are to the west-
ward of that river, and in a dry season would be
impassable to anyone not knowing the country.
By following the river up they would easily
cross the watershed on to the Gulf of Carpentaria
waters, and so get on to Leichhardt's old track."
Brown got a map out of the pack and illus-
trated thereon what he had just said.
The next coherent portion of the journal would
seem to have been written after a disaster.
"April 24th, 1849. There are now only five
of us left; two Hen tig and the Doctor are
both sick. The other two must have died on
the dry stage, as they have not come in here and
the blacks would not let them go back. I have
not been able to write my journal for some days,
and as the Doctor cannot write now, no record
at all has been kept. We were just packing up
to leave the rocky water-hole in the scrub where
we had been camped for some days, when the
blacks attacked us on all sides. There were so
many of them, and they had such good cover in
the scrub, that we fairly had to get away as best
THE MISSING EXPEDITION. 91
wo could without water, or all of our packs.
While we were trying to keep them off a gun
burst and nearly shattered the Doctor's hand.
This forced us to hasten our retreat to get him
safely away, leaving some of our horses and
mules behind. Immediately on getting out of
the scrub we found ourselves in open stunted
forest, covered with prickly grass. We kept to
the south-west until evening and then camped
for a while, for the Doctor and Hentig could go
no further. We had travelled very slowly, and
when we camped Kelly asked me how far I
thought we had come. I told him about ten
miles. He then proposed that we should take
the freshest horses and go back and try and get
some water, as even if the blacks were camped
at the hole they would be asleep at the time we
got there. I agreed with him, for it seemed
hopeless to go on through this dry forest without
water. I suggested, however, that we should
take all the animals and Murphy, and if possible
give the blacks a fright. Leaving the two others
to look after the sick men and keep a fire going,
we started, and were singularly fortunate. We
got back soon after midnight and found the
blacks camped by the water-hole. They were
asleep, having been feasting on the horses we were
forced to abandon. Some awoke, however, and
we immediately rushed into the camp, shouting
and firing. They fled indiscriminately, leaving
92 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
most of their weapons behind, and these we
heaped on the fires. We were lucky enough to
find two big kegs we had abandoned, and filling
these and all the canteens we had brought, we
started back as soon as possible before the natives
recovered from their scare. We reached camp
soon after sunrise, and but for the success of
our raid none of us would be alive now, for that
dry forest continued without change or break,
day after day. We hoarded up some of the
water for the sick men and managed to keep
them on their horses, but I remember nothing of
the last day, nor how the other two parted from
us. Murphy says they went after what they
insisted was a smoke, but he says it was only
a whirlwind passing over burnt country. Kelly
found this water-hole through seeing two white
parrots coming from this direction early in the
morning. It is on the edge of the forest, and to
the west lies a great plain, still covered with the
same prickly grass. There is a little coarse grass
for the few beasts we have now left, but the
water in the hole is thick and muddy and fast
drying up.
" April 25th. We have been back to try and
find the other two men, but without success; we
must stay here "
(Another break in the narrative here came in,
the paper seemingly having been scorched by
fire.)
STUART'S JOURNAL. 93
As it was now getting on for the hour when
Charlie's departure on his trip was to take place,
the two men knocked off their work and assisted
him to get away. Fortunately, having Colum-
bus with them, they were enabled to lighten the
packs considerably, as they made him carry his
share. Morton parted with his young relation
with some misgiving still he liked his pluck,
and did not care to baulk him. By the time the
sun disappeared the three of them were mere
specks in the distance of the great plain.
The six natives seemed quite contented to stay
where they were, but both Morton and Brown
determined to keep a sharp eye on them. If
they discovered them trying to make for the
rock-plain they could easily overtake them on
horseback before they could cross. However,
they were there in the morning, and Brown and
Morton settled down to the continuation of the
journal.
CHAPTER XL
Continuation of Stuart's Journal.
THE narrative now assumed a more connected
form, telling of the death of Dr. Leichhardt
and the rescue of the three survivors by the
friendly natives; also of the discovery by Stuart
94 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
of some curious cave paintings, which bore evi-
dence of being the work of a race superior to
the present inhabitants of the interior.
Continuation of Stuart's Journal.
" Ever since the Doctor injured his hand
through the musket bursting he has been subject
to attacks of feverishness and temporary mad-
ness, and this has greatly added to the hope-
lessness of our position. I have often asked him
for some definite statement of his intentions, but
he seems quite unable to go into any details, and
I am afraid we are fearfully out in our reckon-
ing. Hentig still terribly bad with scurvy.
"May 1, 1849. Since my last entry we have
buried Hentig, and the Doctor must soon follow.
If we could only get across this dry country
ahead of us we might be able to move on, but
since we are almost without rations and most of
our horses dead it seems as though we must
leave our bones here, for there is no turning
back. Doctor much worse. Kelly says that
there is only two days' more water left in the
hole. No sign of rain. Weather getting cooler.
" May 2. This morning, before the sun got up,
I climbed the tall tree on the edge of the plain,
and distinctly saw a faint smoke to the west-
ward, in the same direction that Kelly thought
he noticed it when we first came here. To-
morrow we will start towards it; it is all we
STUART'S JOURNAL. 95
can do. How we shall get the Doctor on I can-
not tell; he is almost helpless, and his mind is
quite gone. We have four horses and two mules.
Besides the Doctor, whom I look upon as a dead
man, there are Kelly, Murphy, and myself
(Stuart). Hentig is buried under the tree with
the cross cut on it. Klausen died on the river
Roper five months ago. I will bury a copy of
this in a powder-flask in Hentig's grave, as well
as the Doctor's papers."
(Here there was an evident gap in the narra-
tion.)
"I have been too ill to write for many days, how
long I don't know, for we have all of us lost
count. I am only just beginning to remember our
journey across that horrible desert. We started
in the direction I had seen smoke, after using up
every drop of water for the animals at the camp
where Hentig is buried. We took it in turns to
hold the Doctor on his horse, but he got very bad
a few hours after we started, and when the sun
grew hot he begged us to lift him off the horse
for a little while. We had all the canteens full,
and Kelly had made a bag of calico and rubbed
it outside with goat's fat, and it held water
tolerably welL So we gave the Doctor plenty to
drink, but he got no better, and about noon he
died. He talked a good deal to himself in Ger-
man, but had lost all knowledge of us or where
he was, and a good thing too. We could not
96 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
stop to bury him, for we had to push on, so we
left him there on the big plain, where I think
no living thing ever comes or ever will come
since we were there. It was the second day out
when we got on to that prickly grass plain with
deep red sand, and then our horses began to give
up, and we had to walk and try and drive all
the beasts; but they were so thirsty they would
not keep together, so we stopped and talked
about what was best to be done. Kelly and I
agreed that it was best to unpack all the animals,
and, taking all the water and as much food as
we could carry, to march on, and perhaps if wt
soon came to water we could come back for the
beasts. Murphy did not think so; he thought
we could drive them on on foot when it got
dark, but we persuaded him that we were right,
and started. We walked on long after it got
dark, and then we lay down and slept on the
sandy plain amongst the prickly grass, for since
leaving the camp we have never passed a tree.
In the night Kelly called me and pointed to
a light in the west, which was evidently the
reflection of a large fire. Next morning we met
it, for a wind had sprung up in the morning. It
was well for us that it was almost barren country
where we met the flames, otherwise we would
have been burnt. As it was we were nearly stifled
with heat and smoke. Afterwards, all that day
and night, we watched the glare of it behind us
STUART'S JOURNAL. 97
blazing amongst the dry prickly grass we had
passed through, carried on by the strong wind
that now blew, and we knew that our animals,
saddles, and the Doctor's body would be burnt
up, and no one would ever see more of them; so
it was with sorrowful hearts we walked on.
That day I saw some trees on ahead, and we
turned "
(Here the journal had been effaced, apparently
by water, but nothing of importance appeared
lost.)
" Murphy was the weakest, but we stood by
him, although the burnt country was very dis-
tressing. Kelly got a little light-headed towards
morning, and I began to feel the same. I don't
remember much more; it all seems a dream of
stumbling along and helping each other, some-
times talking to the phantoms we all fancied we
saw walking with us ; and then I came partly to
my senses under a rough shade of boughs, and
before me was this great lake, and I knew by
the smell of the place and almost without looking
around that I was in a camp of the natives.
Kelly and Murphy were alive, and better than I
was. They remembered something about the
natives helping us to the water, for we had
passed it, and were going right away "
(Another gap.)
" June. I have put down June, for I think it
must be that time of the year, as near as I can
(M64) G
98 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
make it. Neither Kelly nor Murphy can read or
write, so while I was ill they did not keep the
dates. The natives are quite friendly, and Kelly,
who was born in the bush of the southern portion
of the colony, has attained great influence over
them, as he is very active, and can use nearly all
their weapons. I have been round the lake; it
is nearly sixty miles round, but very shallow,
except at the end where our camp is. The
natives tell me it dries up some seasons, with the
exception of the deep hole here. They have
canoes made out of shells of trees, and can man-
age them very well, standing upright and poling
or sculling with a spear. They know nothing of
any other blacks, excepting a tribe to the east-
ward, of whom they seem greatly frightened.
They are a very simple people, and live well, as
there is plenty of fish in the lake and wild fowl.
Kelly and Murphy have quite settled down to
the life, but how different it is for me! When
I think of my own people, and how I am doomed
to live and die amongst savages, I nearly go mad;
for unless other white men find their way here
I must die here; and who would cross that
horrible sand plain ? If the Doctor had but lived
we might have found some way of escape, but
he and our horses and saddles are all burnt up.
What is the good of keeping this record? No
one will ever read it. I will become a savage
like those around me, and forget what I was.
"July. I must write or I shall forget my
STUART'S JOURNAL. 99
language, and that I must keep while life lasts.
A strange thing happened to-day. The old man
Powlbarri came to me and made me understand
that he wanted me to go with him, he had some-
thing to show me. I followed him to the ridge
where the great sandstone rocks are, and he led
through a gap between two of them so narrow
that we could scarcely squeeze along. In a short
time we stood in a spacious cave that penetrated
seemingly into the depths of the ridge. There
was a bar of limestone in the side and a few
stalactites, but not many, and light was admitted
dimly through cracks and crevices overhead. But
when my eyes were more accustomed to the light
I started with affright, for partly overhead and
partly confronting me was a strange gigantic
shape with outstretched hand. I recoiled for an
instant, and then saw how I had been deceived;
it was a rock painting on the sloping roof of the
cave. It bore no resemblance to the ordinary
crude tracings of the natives. I looked at it
narrowly, and tried to get out of the old man
who did it. He gave me to understand that it
had been always there as well as I could com-
prehend him, longer than the blacks knew of.
The figure was of heroic size, with straight
symmetrical features, the head surrounded by
a halo or turban, and the body attired in a rough
semblance of a robe. The whole figure was of
grave aspect, and much reminded me of the
drawings I had seen of Egyptian gods. The old
100 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
man beckoned to me to withdraw, and I was not
sorry to do so, for I wanted time to think, and
intended to come back with Kelly and Murphy
and explore the place thoroughly. We passed
out of the cave, and had just squeezed through
the gap when our ears were greeted with a shrill
discordant yell of terror from the camp. With
an answering shout my companion with extra-
ordinary agility bounded from my side, and I
ran after him. There was little doubt what had
happened; the dreaded tribe from the east had
surprised and attacked the camp. When I arrived
on the scene the fight was just assuming extensive
proportions. At first the boys, gins, and old
men had been easily overpowered, some killed
and some captured; but a hunting-party came
up, amongst whom were my two companions, who
now went naked, and were nearly as dark as the
natives. Kelly, who would have made a brave
and dashing soldier if fate had so willed, plunged
at once into the thick of the fray, followed by
Murphy, who was slower in his movements.
There appearance disconcerted the enemy, who
were horribly distinguished by a red smear on
the forehead and a white triangle on the breast.
They rallied, however, but Kelly's onset, so dif-
ferent from the ordinary method of native war-
fare, had evidently staggered them. I was about
to join our side when I remembered that nearly
the only part of our equipment saved was my
double - barrelled pistol and ammunition bag.
STUART'S JOURNAL. 101
This I had never used, reserving it for our own
protection, and I ran to my whirlie and came
back with it loaded. A tall blackfellow was
engaged with Kelly, and rushing up I fired at
and shot him. There was an instantaneous lull
of surprise, and at the discharge of the other bar-
rel the attackers straightway fled, and even our
own side seemed inclined to follow their example.
Alas, our victory was dearly bought ! Kelly was
speared through the chest, mortally I saw at
once; and so it turned out, for the poor boy died
with his head on my knee in a few minutes.
We buried him that evening, and never did I
feel more sorry than for my bright young com-
panion, who, although uneducated, had many
noble qualities, and "
(Here there was a large portion of the journal
quite undecipherable; the few words distin-
guishable seem to point to a visit to the cave
with Murphy.)
"The strange mystery of the cave paintings
still puzzles me. The additional smaller drawings
we discovered are most singular, and certainly
point to other authorship than that of the
natives. In many places there are signs like a
written language, and the peculiar portrayal of
dress indicates an Asiatic origin."
(Another gap.)
"I miss Kelly still. Murphy is dull and in-
tractable; he has sunk to the level of his savage
companions. God, have pity on me, for I
102 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
shall never never see my countrymen again!
Surrounded by deserts, impassable to me on
foot, I must drag out my life here, hoping for
the succour that will come too late to save me."
(Here the narrative broke off, although several
more blank leaves in the pocket-book were
available.)
CHAPTER XII.
Charlie's Adventure.
WELL," said Brown, "which is it to be?
South or west?"
"According to Columbus, Stuart was down
with the southern tribe the last time they saw
him, which is apparently many years ago."
" And he says that the road to the southern
tribe is the easier to travel. I think we ought
to go there first."
"Then tackle the western lot. We must
thoroughly examine those caves he speaks of."
"Yes, the horses are in fine hard condition
now; we will make a start as soon as Charlie
comes back."
" We ought to go round by Hentig's grave and
recover those papers."
" We have got our work cut out. Lucky we
brought a good supply of rations."
The six niggers appeared to have settled down
CHARLIE'S ADVENTURE. 103
contentedly to await the return of Columbus.
They were not at all intelligent, and both men
failed in getting any further information from
them.
" What's to become of these beggars when we
leave?" said Brown. "We must take Columbus
with us to show us the best road."
" There's plenty of game here, and up and
down the water-course they will be able to earn
an honest living," returned Morton. "There's
not enough of them to resort to their cannibal
practices again."
" I sha'n't be sorry when Charlie comes back; I
am tired of doing nothing."
The time appointed for Charlie's return drew
near without any sign of the three men. Mor-
ton watched the plain all day, finding it impos-
sible to conceal his anxiety, and blaming himself
for having allowed the boy to go.
At last, not long before sundown, a solitary
figure was seen approaching. Morton eagerly
snatched up the glasses.
" Columbus. And alone," said he, putting the
glasses down with a sigh.
The two friends waited anxiously for the
approach of the native. Instinctively they felt
that some disaster must have happened.
As soon as Columbus was within hearing he
commenced howling dismally, and the six others
answered him, lamenting in a loud voice. This
was kept up at intervals until Columbus reached
104 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
the camp. Without waiting to be questioned,
he held up two fingers and pointed down to the
ground. Charlie and Billy were evidently in
trouble somewhere underground. Brown indi-
cated that they would go out there, which was
evidently what Columbus wanted.
" We must take all the surcingles," said Brown;
"they will bear Charlie's weight, I think, and
will make a good long rope buckled together."
"Columbus has been evidently sent back to
bring assistance; and the old beggar has trav-
elled too, by the look of him. What do you say
to taking two of the others with us?"
" I suppose they will not sack the camp while
we are away?" returned Brown.
"No, they are not civilized enough for that.
Now let us make all the haste we can."
Columbus was instructed to tell two of the
blacks to accompany them, and to explain to
these men what had happened. This he did in
several rapid sentences, and in a few minutes they
were ready for the road. Their equipment was
but light, as they only took their revolvers,
candles, the surcingles, and a little food and
some brandy, a small supply of which they
had with them; this with their water-bags would
be all they required, they reckoned. They
pushed on with scarcely a rest all night, and
found the advantage of having the natives with
them, for they could not have found their way
amongst the boulders in the dark.
CHARLIE'S ADVENTURE. 105
About an hour before daylight they stood
once more on the edge of the hole in which
the crater had sunk. There was a decided
bad odour arising from it, distinctly noticeable
at that time.
Morton leaned over the edge and shouted
"Below there!" as loud as he could. There was
silence for a second or two, and then " Below
there!" came thundering back.
" Echo," said Brown.
Morton tried again with the same result.
Brown fired his pistol, but the thunder of the
echoes was the only answer.
"They must be poisoned with foul air," said
Morton, in tones of the deepest sorrow.
" Must we wait until daylight ? " asked Brown.
"I am afraid so. We might come to grief
ourselves, and then it would be all up indeed.
However, I think I can get down to the edge of
the fissure without much danger, if you and the
two blacks can hang on to the surcingles."
The preparations were soon completed, and
Morton carefully made his way down the slop-
ing sides of the hole and amongst the mud-en-
crusted boulders, by the help of the surcingles,
which Brown and the two natives held above. It
was slow work, for the candle he had gave out
only a feeble light, but at last he found himself
at the edge of the rift at the bottom. He stood
listening for some time; presently, with an
up-blast of cold air that nearly extinguished his
106 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
candle, came a strange wail as though some giant
was sighing, far underground.
" Hear anything up there, Brown?" he shouted.
" Not a sound. Are you on level ground, can
we slack off?"
" Yes, slack off. But do you think you could
trust the two blacks to hold it while you come
down ? I will come back and show you a light."
" I'll chance it at any rate," returned Brown,
and presently he stood beside his friend.
Morton told him of the strange sound he had
heard, and both stood by the edge of the hole
and listened. Once more the blast of cold air
came and with it the melancholy and mysterious
noise.
" That's no human or animal noise," said
Brown; "it seems more like water or air escap-
ing."
" The atmosphere does not seem so bad now,"
said Morton. "I suppose it was the contrast
with the pure air above."
" It was getting light to the eastward when I
came down just now," returned Brown; "we had
better wait for full daylight half an hour can-
not make much difference."
"It might make all the difference," replied
Morton; "however, I suppose there is no help
for it."
At that moment there was a sudden cry from
above.
"Wonder what's up?" said Morton, scrambling
CHARLIE'S ADVENTURE. 107
back. "Hang it all!" he exclaimed as he laid
hold of the surcingles and they came tumbling
down, showing that the blacks above had let go
of them.
Presently they were heard jabbering at the
edge of the hole, and Morton shouted to them
and threw a coil of the surcingles up. Ap-
parently they understood what was wanted,
for the line tautened once more and Morton
scrambled up, and then assisted Brown. The
dawn was rapidly breaking, and the blacks,
pointing to the candle Morton still held in his
hand and then towards the memorable cliffs,
chattered volubly.
" They must mean that they saw a light in
that direction," said Brown, " It's too light for
us to see now."
"Shall we go over there or investigate this
hole?"
"They must have seen something by the start
they got; perhaps we had better go there first."
Accompanied by the two natives, who led the
way by a path known to them, they made for
the shattered cliff which they had hoped never
to see again. As they approached it an awful
odour, evidently stealing through the cracks from
the bodies rotting beneath the collapsed roof,
made itself disagreeably evident. The blacks
kept on talking to one another, as though dis-
cussing what they now saw for the first time.
Arrived at the place, the white men mounted on
108 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
the piled-up debris, and both together shouted
with the full strength of their lungs. To their
delight a distinct answer was heard from beneath
their feet, evidently no echo.
" It's Charlie's voice!" cried Morton delightedly.
" Where are you ? " he yelled.
" Here ! " came the voice, right under their feet.
"In the old cave?" asked Morton.
"No, but close to it; there's a vile smell here."
"How did you get there?"
" Came underground. Do you think you can
get us out here, or must we go back again to the
crater?"
" The blacks saw your light, so there must be
a big gap somewhere. Have a good look round,
it's sunrise now."
There was a silence for a while, then Charlie's
voice sounded a little further off.
" There's a big crack here, but too narrow for
us to get through."
The men above went in the direction of the
sound, and soon found the fissure.
" It would take dynamite to shift this one," said
Brown, putting his hand on the huge boulder
that formed one side of the rift.
Morton knelt down on the flat rock that
formed the opposite side and put his hand into
the crevice.
"Hurrah!" he shouted, "this is only a slab;
the four of us can shift this, I think."
So it proved. The four, with one unanimous
CHARLIE'S ADVENTURE. 109
pull, managed to partly upraise the limestone
slab, and Morton adroitly kicked a big stone
underneath which kept it in position. Charlie
was now able to crawl out, followed by Billy.
"Here, take a swig of this before you say
anything," said Morton, mixing some brandy and
water in his pannikin.
Charlie took some and handed the remainder
to Billy, who looked particularly scared.
"How long have you been cruising about in
the bowels of the earth?" asked Brown.
" Since the night before last, or early yesterday
morning. I did not go down the deep hole when
I first came here, because I had promised to be
careful. I went down the first one, and then
got some dead leaves from the old bottle-tree
camp, lit them, and threw them down. By the
light we could see that there were no sides to
the hole it seemed as though it had been
punched in the roof of a tunnel. However, we
found a place at last where some boulders
were piled up, and I thought that, with Billy's
help, I could get down on to them. I did so,
and found that I could get from there on to
the floor of the place without any trouble. I
came back for Billy, and he was being helped
down by Columbus, when suddenly there came
a most awful sound, half a shriek and half a sigh,
which so frightened Billy that he must have
let go, for he came tumbling on top of me, and
the two of us dislodged the boulder, which was
110 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
not very firm to start with. Fortunately we
were neither of us hurt, but Columbus must have
thought we were killed, for he cleared out "
" And came straight back to us, luckily," inter-
rupted Morton.
"When I found that he was gone," went on
Charlie, " I thought we could get back again by
piling rocks up to stand upon ; but there were no
small ones, they were all too big for us to shift.
We waited there, and shouted, and called, and
every now and again we heard that sigh '*
" We heard it as well," said Morton.
"Billy shook with fright every time, and
nearly made me as bad as himself. At last
I made up my mind to explore the passage we
were in; but I had a great job with Billy, for the
passage led in the direction the sound came from,
and Billy conjured up all manner of horrors.
Luckily I had the packet of candles with me
when I came down, so we had plenty of light."
" Was the air bad?" asked Morton.
"There was a funny damp smell, but the
candles burnt well, and we felt no bad effects.
The passage was smooth enough underfoot but
not very high, so that we had to stoop; but
we came to occasional places where we could
straighten our backs. The noise kept getting
louder, until at last Billy with his terror got to
be such a nuisance, that when we got to where
there was enough space I put my candle down
and gave him a good punching."
CHARLIE'S ADVENTURE. Ill
Here Brown and Morton burst out laughing.
The idea of Charlie, down in the blackness of
a subterranean passage, thumping Billy to keep
his own courage up, was too original.
"Presently we came to where the passage
branched, and along one came the noise, now
a regular bellow. Nothing could induce Billy to
go along that one; he threw himself on the
ground and let me kick him, but he wouldn't
budge."
"Were you very anxious to go yourself,
Charlie?" asked Brown.
"I had to keep up appearances," returned
Charlie modestly. " We started along the other
passage, and presently it began to ascend, and
was littered and partly blocked with boulders;
finally, after much trouble and squeezing, we
got up to where you found us. It was dark
when we got there, but I knew by the fresh
air coming in that there were some cracks some-
where leading to the upper world, and I guessed
by the smell that we must be in the neighbour-
hood of the old cave. We went back a bit and
lay down to sleep, and when I woke up we
came here again so as to be ready to try and get
out at the first dawn."
"Thank goodness it's all over," said Morton;
" for I've had a rare fright, and Brown and I
have been travelling all night. However, we
won't go back without investigating the mystery
of the noise."
112 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
There was still some water lying about in the
rock holes around the crater, so when they re-
turned they set to work and got breakfast ready.
Charlie thought with them that the strange
noise was made by an escape of water or air,
both from the regularity of the sound and its
peculiar nature.
CHAPTER XIII
Investigation of the Mysterious Noise The Trip South
Natives Exterminated Stuart's Initials Found.
AS soon as the meal was finished, Morton,
Brown, and Charlie descended the hole,
but Billy declined the invitation extended to
him. By the aid of the surcingles they climbed
down into the passage already traversed by
Charlie and Billy, and which appeared to have
been an underground water-course at the time
when the boiling springs were at work.
At last they arrived at the branch passage
from whence came the mysterious noise, and
along this they proceeded cautiously. Suddenly
across their path extended a black chasm, bring-
ing them to a stand-still. Testing the ground
carefully, they crawled to the edge and looked
over. The darkness was intense, but on holding
the candle out, a tiny spark was reflected down
below, as though from the surface of a sheet of
THE TRIP SOUTH. 113
water. Suddenly this disappeared, and the loud
sigh, or, as Charlie had called it, "a regular
bellow ", came up from the pit. This died down,
and they heard a repeated swishing noise, like
water splashing against rocks. Morton inverted
his candle so as to get the wick well alight, and
then dropped it down the hole. They watched
it falling for some time ere it struck the water
with a distinctly audible hiss.
"By Jove! it's a long way down there. I
don't think we need stop here any longer unless
Charlie wants to go down."
"No, thanks," said Charlie, "my curiosity is
quite satisfied."
They retreated as cautiously as they had
advanced, followed by the melancholy roar from
below.
"It's the water that makes that noise," said
Brown. " The water down there is evidently
still in a disturbed state, and is regularly set in
motion, and rushes up some sort of a blow-hole."
"Do you think it has any connection with
that hot swamp and lake down south?"
"Without any doubt; perhaps we shall find
that lake all burst up when we go down there."
They retraced their steps, and, by the aid of
the surcingles held by the blacks above, emerged
once more into the open air. They rested most of
the day, and started back to what they now
considered their main camp as soon as the
evening grew cool.
(M 64) H
114 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Columbus and the other four blacks were
there, and everything as they had left it.
" That was a smart trick," said Brown.
"What was?"
" In our hurry to start after Charlie, we left
the journal and the copies we had made lying
loose in the tent. If the grass had taken fire,
or the niggers looted the camp, we should have
lost all our work."
Morton whistled.
They rested one day, and then made an early
start for the south. They had rigged up a make-
shift saddle for Columbus, and, as they travelled
slowly, he was able to get along fairly well.
They reached the swamp about the same time
as before, and at first noticed no change in it.
On penetrating it, however, they found that it
was not so boggy as formerly, and on mounting
the tree they had already climbed, they saw that
the water in the lake had fallen considerably, and
the fringe of reeds was drooping.
" Do you think all these fine trees will die if
the water dries up?" said Charlie.
" They may. But as their roots go down to a
great depth, I should think they would hold on a
good many years yet."
Next morning Columbus indicated the track
they had come upon before, and they soon had
left the swamp behind them. The country was
exceedingly monotonous, there being no break
in the forest until about four in the afternoon;
THE TRIP SOUTH. 115
then they suddenly came to a creek, and the
country began to improve, and better grass was
apparent. At the first water they came to they
camped for the night. Columbus intimated to
them that the creek they were on and the one
where they had been camped were the same, and
as the characteristics were similar, they con-
cluded that he was right, and that the creek had
re-formed again. Columbus also informed them
that they would now follow the creek, and that
there was plenty of water all the way. On
inquiry, he said that they would reach the
mountain in two days.
On the evening of the second day they got into
broken country, although it was still well grassed,
and the creek had largely increased in size.
From the crest of one ridge they passed over,
Columbus pointed to the mountain now visible
in the distance.
Next day the country was much rougher, and
the creek ran through a succession of gorges.
The mountain was the highest point of the
broken country, and the creek swept round the
base of it.
Morton called Brown's attention to the fact
that all the native camps they passed were of
old date, and that no fresh tracks were visible.
At last they reached an extent of open country
lying at the foot of the mountain, which rose
aloft in a peak. On the bank of the creek were
some ruined humpies> built of mud and sticks,
116 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
after the manner of the Cooper's Creek natives.
In the creek was a long water-hole, apparently
of great depth. Human bones and skeletons
were strewn about the camp. Evidently a
wholesale massacre had taken place some years
back.
" Those cannibals must have wiped the whole
tribe out the last time they were here," said
Brown.
"If they have served the tribe to the west-
ward the same way, they would have had to live
on one another shortly."
After unpacking and hobbling the horses,
they made a thorough investigation of the place
to see if any trace of Stuart still existed, but
they saw nothing to lead them to suppose that a
white man had ever been there.
Columbus, on being appealed to, pointed to
the hill, which was scarcely a quarter of a mile
away. On going over to it they found what
appeared to be a crude kind of barricade built of
stones, a work that none of the party had ever
before seen done by natives. This was the only
indication they found that evening. The next
morning early they ascended the hill, and from
the top had an extended view all around. They
were evidently on the highest point in that part
of the continent. To the south and east it
appeared to be one vast ocean of scrub, without
a break to the horizon. They could trace the
course of the creek for some short distance, then
THE TRIP SOUTH. 117
it apparently died out and was once more lost.
Westward the scrub was broken into belts and
patches, until it merged into a wide gray plain, to
which they could see no end but the sky-line.
Northward was the broken country they had
passed over. The mountain was of granite for-
mation, and on a smooth boulder they found
some initials plainly chipped on the surface:
"C. N. S. 1861".
" Stuart was here, then, right enough. I won-
der whether he went on from here."
" He never got into the settled districts at any
rate, or we should have heard of it."
Columbus, who had accompanied them, shook
his head when asked about the country to the
south and east. He made a gesture like a man
falling down dead, by which they understood
that it was impassable, so that the probability
was that Stuart had perished in his attempt to
make into civilization.
Brown struck a match and lit his pipe.
" We have come to the end of our tether in
this direction," he said.
" I wonder how the lake bears from here,"
replied Morton. " I suppose the cannibals have
a track from the great rock out to it, but if
Stuart got down here on foot we ought to be
able to find our way across on horseback."
Columbus, on being questioned as to the direc-
tion of the lake, pointed north, the way they had
come.
118 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" That's a way the niggers have," said Brown.
" They always point to the last place they started
from; they have no idea of direction. When
we got back to the old camp he would point
some other way."
Columbus professed entire ignorance as to any
means of reaching the lake, except by going
back the way they came and starting on the
road he knew. Morton and Brown, however,
decided on trying to go straight across from
where they wera
They devoted one day to a trip down the
creek, which they found was entirely lost in
sandy, scrubby country. No further sign of
Stuart's presence was found anywhere, nor could
anything be discovered to lead one to suppose
that any of the natives had survived the mas-
sacre, although Columbus had evidently expected
to find some still living.
Calculating the supposed situation of the lake
as due west from the rock, they reckoned it
would be north-west from where they then were.
If that course did not bring them to the lake
they would probably come across some indication
which would lead them to it.
The first part of their journey was through
the belts of scrub they had seen from the hill-
top. It was principally hedgewood, and greatly
delayed their progress, and it was late when
they at last emerged upon the edge of the
plain. The grass was fairly good, but there was
THE TRIP SOUTH. 119
no water for the horses, and from what they had
seen there did not seem much prospect of getting
any early the next day. In fact, it was past
noon before they had crossed the plain and
gained the timber on the other side of it. This
was open forest, and in a clear space, some mile
or two on, they came to a dry lagoon. In the
shallow bed was an old native well, and on
clearing this out and deepening it, a very fair
supply of water came in. Watering their now
thirsty horses took some time, as all the water
had to be drawn from the well, a billyful at a
time, and poured into a trough extemporized from
a waterproof sheet. The supply, however, came
in strongly, showing there was a good permanent
soakage. There was fine feed about the lagoon,
and everybody felt satisfied with the prospect
ahead.
Columbus seemingly knew nothing of the
country they were then on, so that the cannibals
had evidently stuck to one particular track when
on their periodical man-hunting expeditions.
120 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
CHAPTER XIV.
In the Spinifex Desert Arrival at the Lake The
Remnant of a Tribe.
THE next morning when they started the forest
country still continued for many miles, until
they at length came to another broad plain, and a
couple of hours before sundown sighted some tim-
ber nearly on their course. This proved to be a
double line of gutta-percha-trees, with a broad
flat between them. The trees grew on low banks
of sand, on which were countless quantities of
tiny shells; the whole had the appearance of a
shallow water-course, but the bed was covered
with blue-bush. The two lines of trees stretched
on like a limitless avenue, and as it followed much
the same course as that they were travelling,
they proceeded along it. They passed one or
two empty holes, with a ring of polygonum bushes,
dry and withered, around the top of the bank.
It grew late, and as everything still bore a
parched appearance Morton pulled up for a con-
sultation.
While discussing the best thing to do, a flight
of galar and corrella parrots passed overhead,
flying in the direction they were going, and
evidently making for their nightly drink. This
put new life into everybody, and they pushed on
IN THE SPINIFEX DESERT. 121
once more. At dusk they were rewarded by
coming to a somewhat deeper hole than those
they had passed. There was, however, only
sufficient water for their wants in the bottom,
and it was fast drying up, and could not be
depended on for their return journey.
Next morning they still kept on along the
avenue of gutta-percha-trees, and Morton began
to hope that it would turn out to be one of the
water-courses supplying the lake. In this, how-
ever, he was disappointed, for the trees grew
fewer in number and further apart, until they
passed the last one, and before them stretched
once more a boundless plain.
The country now suddenly changed for the
worse; the ground was sandy and covered with
the detestable spinifex, and both Morton and
Brown felt rather doubtful as to going on, for
there was no knowing how far this desert might
extend.
However, they made up their minds to pro-
ceed, as there was really nothing else to do.
Then commenced one of the weariest rides they
had yet experienced during the trip. It was even
worse than the scrub. The prickly needles of
the spinifex irritated the shins of the horses, so
that it was with great trouble the pack-horses
were urged along. Hour after hour went on,
and still there was no change in the unbroken
horizon that bounded them.
" I should fancy those old cannibals found it
122 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
mighty rough on their shins if they had to cross
a belt of desert like this," said Brown.
"I expect they kept it burnt down on the
track they used to patronize," replied his friend.
" Fancy what the feelings of poor hopeless
Stuart and his companions must have been when
toiling through this waste."
" Yes. If we find it bad, what must starving
men on foot have found it?"
That night fell on them still in the desert.
They had an ample supply of water for them-
selves in the canvas bags, but their horses had
to go both hungry and thirsty.
"Things begin to look rather queer," said
Morton, as they prepared to start.
" Yes, it's a case if we don't get out of this by
to-night."
They had hardly mounted, when Billy and
Columbus gave a mutual exclamation, and pointed
to the westward of their track. A curious look-
ing dark mass was travelling swiftly along just
above the horizon. Suddenly it dipped down
and disappeared.
"Hurrah!" shouted Brown. "Flock pigeons
going in for their morning drink. That must be
the lake."
Much elated, they pressed eagerly on in the
new direction, the horses seeming to understand
what was ahead as well as their masters. The
spinifex now began to grow scantier, and patches
of grass appeared in its place; the earth changed
IN THE SPINIFEX DESERT. 123
from red sand to good chocolate soil, and before
them stretched a very large expanse of downs,
well grassed with Mitchell grass and other good
grasses.
Suddenly and unexpectedly they crossed the
crest of an imperceptible rise, and before them
lay the goal of their hopes. Unanimously they
halted and gazed at the locality where the man,
whose journal they had read, had passed many
weary years of exile.
No fairer scene could have been found any-
where in the interior of Australia. A blue
expanse of water, apparently -some miles in
length, lay outstretched before them. The low
sloping banks were verdant with grass, kept
green by the soakage from the lake. Great
gnarled coolibah-trees of immense girth grew
round the water's edge, and the gently rising
downs on either side were studded with clumps
of the beautiful weeping myall arid shady
bauhinia trees. At the end of the lake nearest
to them was a small hill crowned with great
gray boulders of granite.
"After all, there must be something in the
influence of surroundings," said Morton. "The
natives living here, are, or were, according to
Stuart, a gentle and friendly tribe, whilst those
living amongst the barren rocks alongside of that
boiling spring were about the biggest devils I
ever met."
"How about Columbus?" asked Charlie. "If
124 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
there are any natives left, won't they try and
kill him?"
" No doubt they will make it pretty sultry for
him, but he seems quite cheerful over it. He
has put the onus of the whole thing on our
shoulders. He must take his chance."
They rode on in suppressed excitement, hoping
against hope that Stuart might still be there.
"What's that ahead?" suddenly cried Morton.
The object when approached turned out to be
the bald, dried, half -decomposed body of a black-
fellow.
" This is some of your men's doings, my friend,"
said Brown, glancing at Columbus, who grinned
complacently.
The sides of the lake were firm and hard, and
the thirsty horses ran eagerly in and commenced
drinking greedily. Overhead the white correllas
and pink and gray galars chattered noisily amongst
the boughs, on the opposite side a group of objects
like native gu ny ahs were visible. When the horses
finished drinking, they rode round the edge of the
lake to them.
Not a sound was heard, and nothing was seen
to move as they approached the spot, nor was
any smoke visible. Gorged carrion crows and
hawks arose as they drew near, and flapped
unwillingly away; the crows protesting loudly
at being disturbed, after the manner of their
kind. Two or three eagle-hawks gazed fiercely
down from the branches of neighbouring trees.
IN THE SPINIFEX DESERT. 125
A pestilential smell hung heavy in the air, an
odour soon accounted for, for around the ravished
camp lay at least a score of corpses, all in the
same stage of decay as the one they had first
passed on the plain. These appeared to be
mostly old men and women, although here and
there the smaller bodies of children could be seen
amongst their slaughtered parents. Brown and
the others drew a long breath as they gazed on
this scene of murder.
" What a blessing it is," he said, " to know that
all those wretches who did this are crushed into
jelly underneath tons of rock."
"Yes," replied Morton in a low voice; "and for
two pins I could find it in my heart to send that
hoary old sinner there to keep them company."
This sentiment was a common one, and Col-
umbus received some very savage glances, even
Billy looking at him, and handling his carbine as
though anxious to use it on the blackfellow. The
old cannibal, however, was quite unconscious of
the feeling he had aroused, and smiled sweetly as
though he was showing them a highly interesting
little exhibition.
"They must have killed and captured the
whole tribe," said Morton at last. " No hope of
finding Stuart now."
" I am afraid not. We had better look out a
camp as far to windward of these poor wretches
as possible," returned Brown.
Just then Billy whistled, and when his master
126 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
looked towards him, he indicated by a motion
of his head the direction of the hill with the
granite boulders on it.
A thin column of smoke was stealing up from
the back of it.
Morton whispered hastily to Charlie to take
Billy and ride round the foot of the hill to the
back of it, leaving the loose horses feeding about
on the green grass at the edge of the water.
He and Brown rode straight over the crest of
the hill, and underneath them saw the mockery
of a camp. A wretched remnant, who had
escaped massacre, they found huddled together
near some rocks. Two old men, about half a
dozen gins and children, and one young fellow,
badly wounded. Too startled and frightened to
attempt flight, they gathered timorously together.
Their fear seemed augmented when Charlie and
the black boy came up.
Brown dismounted and walked up to them. At
once a cry of surprise and pleasure broke from
the old men. They commenced jumping about,
shouting and laughing uproariously. Instantly
it flashed across the minds of the whites that they
were mistaken for a reincarnation or resurrection
of their countrymen who had formerly lived here.
Morton and Charlie left their horses and joined
Brown, when the conference was abruptly inter-
rupted by the appearance of a riderless horse.
A difference of opinion had arisen between
Columbus and his steed when the others left
IN THE SPINIFEX DESERT. 127
him alone, which resulted in the discomfiture
of the native, who now followed limping after
his horse.
The old men recognized their enemy at once.
They stamped, raved, and spat at him; and one,
picking up a spear, drove at him with such vigour,
that only a nimble jump saved Columbus from
being transfixed. For his part he returned their
vituperation with interest, and the gins joining
in, a perfect tempest of words ensued. Seeing
that nothing could be done until they were alone,
Morton told Charlie to go and round up the pack
and spare horses, and, with Billy and Columbus,
to take them some distance up the lake and camp
on the bank, where he and Brown would join
them.
Once their enemy was out of sight the blacks
quietened down, and one of them commenced a
voluble speech to Brown, addressing him as
" Tuartee", from which it was evident that their
first surmise was correct. After some trouble
they made the natives understand that they
were not going away, but were going to make a
camp at the lake. They promised to return
shortly, and rode away to join Charlie and Billy.
Everybody enjoyed a good swim in the lagoon,
and ate a hearty meal afterwards. Brown and
Morton then strolled back to interview the
blacks.
128 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
CHAPTER XV.
The Fate of Columbus Investigation of the Cave
Stuart's Grave and Kecovery of the Conclusion of
his Journal.
approach to the camp was greeted with
_L cries of " Tuartee", and they endeavoured
to make the old men comprehend that they
wanted to be shown the cave. Apparently,
however, the blacks, if they did understand,
thought that their guidance was quite unneces-
sary to a returned spirit, who ought to know all
about it. They imitated the gestures made by
the whites, and pointed with infinite politeness
the same way that they did, but that was all
that could be got out of them.
As they were both tired after their long and
dreary ride, they determined to start on an
independent search the next morning, and after
giving the blacks some trifling presents they
returned to camp. That evening they enjoyed
a meal of fine fish caught in the lake. It was
plain that some days must be spent in the neigh-
bourhood, in order to thoroughly investigate
the caves, and find out if possible the fate of
Stuart.
" Well, we are here," said Brown, as he made
his bed down that night, " but I'm hanged if I
THE FATE OF COLUMBUS. 129
know exactly how we are going to get back
again."
" No, we shall have to make a mighty long
dry stage, for that last hole we were at will be
dry by to-morrow."
"I think Stuart must have got across some
other way."
They were soon all sound asleep; as no danger
was to be apprehended from the poor wretches
at the camp at the hill, no watch was kept.
Towards morning Morton felt himself gently
shaken by the shoulder; looking up he saw
Charlie bending over him.
" I'm sure there's somebody prowling around
the camp," he whispered. " I felt that funny feel-
ing one feels, you know, of the presence of some-
thing not right about the place. I was woke up
by a sound like a blow, or a stick breaking."
Morton sat up, looked around, and listened.
All appeared peaceful and quite enough. The
fires had burned down, and the light of the stars
alone illumined the scene. The sheet of water
alongside was unruffled, and reflected like a
mirror the thickly-studded sky overhead. Not
a sound could be heard, not even the cry of
a night-bird or water-fowl. For some moments
they both remained silent, listening, then Morton
said in an undertone:
"Must have been fancy, Charlie. There can
be nobody here but those poor wretches over the
hill."
(MM) I
130 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"No, it was not fancy," answered Charlie.
"I am sure there was somebody moving about.
You know I would not have roused you had I
not been certain. Listen!"
Loud cries suddenly arose in chorus from the
camp of the natives.
Brown started up.
"The devil!" he said, after listening. "That
old Columbus at his cannibal tricks again. See
if he is there, Charlie."
Billy and Columbus had made a separate fire,
round which they were sleeping, coiled after the
manner of blackfellows. Billy, aroused by the
outcries which rung out clearly and distinctly in
the still night air, now struggled to his feet, half
asleep.
"Here's Columbus," said Charlie, giving the
prostrate chieftain a good kick. " Wake up, old
man!" he cried.
Columbus never stirred.
" There's something up," said Charlie, drawing
back with a shudder.
Morton struck a match, as did Brown.
There was indeed something up. One glimpse
was sufficient. Columbus lay dead, his skull
shattered with a two-handed club which had
been left beside his body. The shouts of the
blacks were tokens of rejoicing at the return of
his executioners with their work accomplished.
The whites gazed at the dead man in silence,
and each felt slightly cold at the thought of the
THE FATE OF COLUMBUS. 131
ease with which the whole camp might have
been disposed of.
"Retribution!" said Morton at last. "He
deserved his fate, but I can't help feeling sorry
for the old villain. Billy, my boy, supposing
that fellow had made a trifling mistake and
tapped you on the skull in the dark."
Billy shook his head as though to make sure
it was quite sound.
"No good this one country," he replied; "mine
think it go back alonga station."
"Billy, your remarks, as usual, are to the
point, and chock-full of sound sense," remarked
Brown. " But we shall all feel better when the
sun jumps up. Let's make the fire burn and
have breakfast. It's not far off daybreak."
By the time the meal was finished the first
rays of the sun were just visible. Charlie and
Billy were sent after the horses, with instructions
to remove the camp to one of the clumps of
timber some short distance back from the lake,
and then to take Columbus' body to where the
victims of his tribe were lying there they could
moulder in company. Morton and Brown started
in their search for the cave, taking the camp of
the natives on their way. The killing of Colum-
bus was only a just act of tribal vengeance.
They did not intend, therefore, to let it interfere
with their friendly intercourse with these natives,
from whom so much valuable information might
be obtained.
132 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
The blacks evinced no fear when they came to
the camp, and greeted them in the most friendly
manner. Not wasting any time in fruitless
attempts at intercourse, the two men set out on
their search. They were fortunate at the outset.
They selected the two most imposing boulders,
which seemed to answer best to the description
in the journal, and on nearer approach a well-
worn pad proved that they were on the right
track. Squeezing through the narrow aperture
described by Stuart, they found themselves in
the cavern confronting the gigantic figure painted
on the roof and side. Prepared as they were for
the startling appearance of this form, they could
not repress a certain feeling of awe as they gazed
at it, and recognized at once that it was not the
work of any Australian aborigines then existing
on the continent.
A movement behind made Morton hastily turn
round. One of the old men had silently followed
them, and was standing a few paces away.
Seeing Brown look curiously around after the
first survey of the figure he advanced, and
beckoning to him, led him to the side of the
cavern where the light from a crevice above fell
strong on a certain place. There, on the rock,
had been carved with care this inscription
"CHARLES NEIL STUART
CAME HERE, 1849.
DIED "
THE FATE OF COLUMBUS. 133
Then followed a date, scratched with a feeble
hand, which they made out to be " 1870".
With uncovered heads the two friends gazed
sorrowfully and reverently at the resting-place
of their unfortunate countryman. Although
they had never really anticipated finding him
alive, a feeling of sincere regret was uppermost
at discovering their worst forebodings realized.
They would have given much to have been in
time to bring succour to the poor lonely man by
the side of whose grave they knew they were
standing.
The native again advanced, and putting his
hand into a crevice in the rock drew forth
a package, done up in the dried skins of some
small marsupials, and furthermore protected by
a casing of bark. This he gravely handed to
Brown, who took it from him, but refrained from
opening it at once. After a short scrutiny
around, resulting in no further discoveries, they
left the cave. Resting on the first convenient
rock, they proceeded to inspect the precious par-
cel. The contents consisted of an old-fashioned
double-barrelled pistol, a powder flask, a bullet-
mould much dented and battered, and a roll of
loose leaves of paper covered with faded writing.
Together they pored over these leaves, which
contained the conclusion of the castaway's life.
They were in much better order than the con-
tents of the pocket-book originally discovered,
not having been subjected to such rough usage,
134 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
and the narrative ran on without a break. The
contents explained the presence of Murphy
amongst the cannibals, the loss of the pocket-
book, &c., and recorded Stuart's futile attempt
to escape to the south, his meeting with the now
exterminated tribe who lived at the foot of the
mountain, and his return after repeated failures
to penetrate the scrub and sand which cut him
off from the settled districts. A gold discovery
was also recorded.
They went back to their new camp, meaning
to spend the rest of the day in copying out the
journal, so as to insure its safety as much as
possible. Morton dictated the narrative to Brown
and Charlie, who made separate copies. Thus
ran the story.
CHAPTER XVI
The Continuation of Stuart's Journal The Slaughter
Chamber.
I AM now alone, and I know not whether my
comrade is living or dead. It was a year
after Kelly's death by my reckoning, which I
have kept by notches on a rock in the cave
that I went with three natives to a scrub about
ten miles from here to get a peculiar kind of
wood I was looking for to make bows of. For
now that I had made up my mind I would never
THE SLAUGHTER CHAMBER. 135
be rescued, I thought I would try to teach the
natives the use of the bow and arrow, and we
would lead them against this tribe whom they
dreaded so and who killed Kelly, and perhaps
obtain peace. There was no wood suitable near
the camp, but from the description given by the
blacks I thought I could obtain what I wanted
in the scrub indicated by them. There was water
there, and we stopped two days, cutting and
dressing the saplings so as to make them lighter
to carry in, for as we only had stone tomahawks
it took a long time. On the evening of the second
day we heard a gin wailing and crying in the
distance, coming towards us. The blacks stopped
their work and ran to meet her, crying out in
the same tone. I knew something was wrong
and followed them. It was sad news, awful
news! The Warlattas, as the hostile tribe was
called, had attacked the camp at night, had killed
and wounded many, and carried off a number of
prisoners amongst them Murphy, who was a
heavy sleeper and had no chance to defend him-
self. I knew that these Warlattas were cannibals,
and that the prisoners they took away were pro-
bably eaten.
" We got back to camp in the middle of the
night, and the next morning I tried to get the
men who were left to follow me after the canni-
bals, but they were all so cowed they wouldn't,
although I showed them the pistol and fired it
off. I tried to track the enemy by myself, and
136 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
if I could I would have followed them, but I lost
the tracks and nearly died of thirst. The War-
lattas had taken nearly all the few things we
had saved, including my pocket-book; these few
sheets I am writing on were picked up about
the camp.
" 1853. That is my reckoning. All this time
I have written nothing, as I wanted to husband
my paper, and I had little heart after Murphy
was taken away. I made the blacks build a
place with stones a sort of barricade to sleep in
at night, and it was lucky I did, for the War-
lattas came again; but, thanks to the barricade
and my pistol, we beat them off without losing
a man, and now the natives have great confidence,
and I think will beat them again.
" I often tried to get them to follow me to where
these people lived, as I thought Murphy might
be alive and I could rescue him, but they seemed
to be horribly frightened at the thought and
refused always. On examining the bodies of
those that had fallen, I found them all marked
the same way with some sort of pigment, a red
smear on the forehead and a white triangle on
the breast. This, and something in their appear-
ance, led me to consider if there was not some
connection between the figures in the cave and
this strange people. Thinking long over this, I
explored the cave thoroughly, both it and any in
the neighbourhood, and finally it led me to the
strange discovery that has caused me to write my
THE SLAUGHTER CHAMBER. 137
journal once more, in the faint hope that some
day it will be found and read by civilized man.
"Searching around the cave containing the
painted figure, I found an aperture which appa-
rently ran for some distance. It was on the
ground, the rock coming to within about two feet
of the sandy floor, and on stooping down it seemed
to me that I could feel a current of fresh air
passing through. On inquiry I found that none
of the blacks had been into the opening, as they
had a superstitious dislike scarcely, however,
amounting to dread of the cave. The aperture
was too low to easily admit me, so I got a slim
young fellow to explore it. He soon crawled
back, saying there was another big cave beyond,
but too dark to see anything. I got some more
boys up and set them to scoop the sand away
until the opening was big enough for me to pass
in. We took fire and bark and wood with us,
and when we emerged in the gloomy cavern
beyond we immediately kindled a fire. As the
blaze arose and illuminated the recesses of the
cave a shriek of terror burst from my juvenile
companions, a wild cry of " Warlatta! Warlatta!"
and in an instant they disappeared like a bevy
of black rats underneath the rock where we had
entered. I looked around in surprise, but soon
divined the cause; on the opposite side appeared,
drawn in white on the wall, a large triangle, the
sign ever associated in their minds with murder
and rapine.
138 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" Heaping more wood on the fire, I advanced
and examined the surroundings. Underneath
the triangle was a huge block of yellowish-
white sandstone, but its purity was marred by a
horrible reddish stain which marked one of its
sloping sides. Its purpose flashed on me at once
in some old time it had been used as a sacrificial
stone. The fire now blazed up merrily, and I had
ample light for my researches. The smoke dis-
appeared through crevices in the roof, and the
ventilation seemed excellent. Marks of old fires
were visible all over the floor, which was of white
sandstone with the same reddish stains visible in
places. Searching more minutely I found in one
corner a knife or dagger, made of steel (since then
I have found it to be tempered so skilfully that
the edge can scarcely be turned by the hardest
rock). The handle, if it ever had one, had dis-
appeared through age. In addition, there was a
broken ring of the same metal, seemingly part of
a chain, and on the walls were characters in red,
but of no written language that I could remem-
ber. This was all that I saw on my first visit.
"Voices at the opening told me that the natives
had recovered from their fright, and were in
search of me. I called to them, and emboldened
by my voice and the firelight some of them crept
in and joined me. I found out that they had no
knowledge of this chamber, and in hopes of find-
ing another I set them hunting round for any
more openings that might exist, but none could
THE SLAUGHTER CHAMBER. 139
be discovered. Whilst so engaged one of them
brushed against the stone altar, and immediately
it commenced rocking, whilst a squeaking, pierc-
ing scream, like a human being in intense agony,
thrilled us all with horror. The blacks threw
themselves on the ground, and it was a few
moments before I could summon up courage to
approach the stone and examine it. The rocking
was gradually ceasing, and the shrieks grew
fainter as the motion ceased. The stone I found
to be most beautifully poised, so that the slightest
touch started the oscillation. As to the machinery
that produced the screaming noise, that I could
not investigate without capsizing the stone, which
evidently weighed some tons. For a moment I
shut my eyes, and seemed to see once more the
hideous drama that must have been many times
enacted in this chamber of death the savage
priests, the manacled victim, the streaming blood,
the trembling captives, and the harsh shrieking
of the rocking stone adding its awful voice to
the groans of the dying man and fading away
into silence with his last cries. What horrible
ingenuity had devised such added terrors to the
scene ? By degrees I got the blacks out of their
fright, but it was amusing to see the celerity
with which they disappeared as soon as I gave
the signal.
" 1862. I have made a great effort to escape,
but am forced to come back here to die. The
blacks had told me on two occasions that rather
140 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
to the west of south there was water within
reach of a long day's journey; but as this was
only leading me further into this uninhabited
wilderness, I had never had the curiosity to go
there. It now struck me that from there I could
possibly get round the end of the great sandy
desert, and perhaps find an easy road back to the
settlement, which must have pushed out towards
me since I have been buried here. I had suc-
ceeded in teaching the blacks the use of the bow
and arrow, and to build tolerably safe huts to
sleep in. The Warlattas had attacked us twice
since the first time we defeated them, and on
both occasions had suffered great loss, whilst we
had not a man wounded. For years now they
have not dared to come, and I think the bows and
arrows have frightened them. Moreover, my
natives have no longer the terror of them they
had formerly, and feel confident in repulsing
them. Under these circumstances I felt that I
could venture to leave them, for I did not like
the idea of their becoming once more a prey to
this horrible Warlatta tribe. One of the old
men who had been to the water before, and a fine
young fellow named Onkimyong, accompanied
me. I fully explained to the blacks what to do
if the Warlattas turned up again, and promised
them soon to return ; for if I succeeded in getting
away, I meant to come back with a party to
thoroughly examine the caves and root out the
Warlattas for good. Strange, the blacks have no
A HOPELESS SITUATION. 141
repugnance to going anywhere west or due
south, but to the eastward they will not go.
Our journey during the first day was over
treeless country well grassed, although at times
we came across patches of the prickly grass,
proving that we were not very far from the edge
of the sandy desert. We did not reach the
water that night, but as we had brought a
couple of coolamen 1 full, we did not trouble to
press on. Next morning we arrived there early
in the morning and found it a long narrow lagoon,
the water being of a milky colour. Around
this lagoon were many camping -places of the
natives. I asked the old man if he knew this
tribe, and I found that he had met some mem-
bers of it once; they were friendly, not like the
Warlattas."
CHAPTER XVII.
Continuation of Stuart's Journal A Hopeless Situation.
WE stayed at the lagoon all day, and in the
evening, fortunately, a party of the na-
tives came in. They were timid at first, but the
old man and Onkimyong could make themselves
understood, and they gradually gained confidence.
They had never seen a white man before, al-
1 Vessels chopped out of the soft wood of the coral-tree by the
natives; and used for carrying water in the dry country.
142 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
though I am now pretty well burnt black by the
sun. My two natives showed off their bow-and-
arrow shooting with great pride. They told the
others how the Warlattas, who seemed to have
turned their attention to the new-comers also,
had been beaten off and killed.
" These natives explained that they lived on a
creek to the south-east, and when I heard that
I made sure that I should at last escape. When
the old man found out where they came from
and that I intended to accompany them, he
would not go any further, and nothing could
induce him to alter his intention of going back.
Onkimyong, however, who was very fond of me,
and being young had not so much superstition,
said that he would stay with me and go wher-
ever I went.
"The blacks were on a hunting expedition,
and had come to the lagoon on purpose to fish;
so we remained there a few days and the old
man returned to the lake.
" When we started we went to the south-east,
and the country rapidly changed its character,
becoming scrubby and barren. That night
we camped at a salt lake, obtaining some
water, slightly brackish for drinking, from a
native well dug some distance back. Next day
our course was through wretchedly poor and
barren country. When we rested for a time I
noticed an outcrop of quartz; my position in the
party had ostensibly been that of geologist,
A HOPELESS SITUATION. 143
and I went over to examine it, for before we left
there had been some vague rumours that gold
had been discovered in the southern part of the
colony. I broke up some of the stone with a
large one, and found that it was auriferous.
This discovery did not elate me in any way. If
I had found a mountain of gold, of what value
would it be to me?
"Continuing our journey we reached water
again that night, apparently a small soakage
spring. The blacks told Onkimyong that we
should camp at a small creek the following night
with some brackish water in it, and that the
next night there was water in a clay pan, and
the following night we should reach their main
camp. This proved to be the case, and we
found their home to be on the bank of a fine
creek, running round the foot of a tall hill. I
now looked upon my escape as secure, for surely
this large creek, well defined and supplied with
water, must run down south to settled country,
and I could follow it easily. Alas! I was
doomed to disappointment!
"The Warlattas had not been seen for some
time, and, unluckily for them, they selected the
second night after our arrival for an attack.
" It was brilliant moonlight, and the blacks
were holding a corroboree in our honour, when
one of the gins shrieked out that the Warlattas
were on them. The fire-sticks were visible com-
ing on swiftly, and they had evidently reckoned
144 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
on taking the camp by surprise. I had been
very careful of my ammunition, but I thought
I could spare one charge. I called to Onkimyong,
and told him to tell the blacks not to be
frightened; then, as the Warlattas approached,
shouting and yelling, I fired straight at them.
The effect was instantaneous the onslaught
stopped at once. It must have completely sur-
prised them to find themselves suddenly con-
fronted by me in this new place. Before they
could recover from their surprise Onkimyong
and I were at work with our bows and arrows.
This completed the rout, and they turned and
ran; Onkimyong shouted to the natives and
rushed in pursuit, followed by some who had
recovered from their terror. I did not go with
them, but I think they did good execution.
"There was great rejoicing over this defeat
of their enemies, and I felt very glad that the
attack should have been made when it was.
Seemingly, since we had beaten them off at the
lake they had devoted all their attention to this
poor tribe. The next day I ascended the moun-
tain, and from the top saw that in the direction
I wanted to go there was nothing but a vast
scrub. The creek, too, seemed to disappear soon
after passing the mountain; and this I soon
found out was the case. It ran completely out
in a sandy waste of scrub. The blacks asserted
that it never re-formed, and that there was no
water either to the south or east, and that
A HOPELESS SITUATION. 145
nothing lived there but snakes. I tried over
and over again but always had to return, half
dead with thirst and fatigue. One old man
said that he had heard of a big rock down south
where there was a hole with water in it. But
this I imagine was only a tradition, as from the
top of the hill I could discover no sign of it, and
wherever I penetrated I found always the same
arid and barren scrub and sand. Being thus
disappointed in my efforts south and east, I
thought that I might follow the creek up and
come to some available strip of country. Judging
by its direction the creek, if it headed far enough
away, must be east of the prickly grass desert.
"As the Warlattas always came down the
creek I could not induce one of the natives to
accompany me. Even Onkimyong was afraid to
face it. With little care about my fate I there-
fore started alone. I followed the creek for a
long distance, finding it well watered, and that
a beaten track ran beside it. This turned off,
and on following the creek further I found that
it ran out; I therefore returned and followed
the track. In course of time this led me to a
swamp of great tea -trees which it skirted.
After following this swamp half-way round the
track left it and went amongst some rocks.
They were basaltic, and in a short time they
closed in in a perfect wall and I lost all trace of
the track I had been following. Again and
again I tried to find it, but the rough basalt cut
(M64) K
146 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
my feet to pieces and the track could not be
followed over the rocks. I had to rest for a
time to get my feet well, and fortunately there
was plenty of game about the creek, which
apparently re-formed on the northern side of
the swamp. I now determined to follow this
creek up again, and did so, until at last it died
out in a desert forest. At one place I saw
a number of trees marked, apparently by the
Warlattas. I made several excursions east of
the creek, but I was always confronted by
a dense and impenetrable scrub."
"Poor fellow!" said Brown at this point.
" Fancy his being so near his companion Murphy
and yet to miss him."
"I can well understand his inability to get
along through those basalt rocks, but I don't
understand how he did not see the Warlattas'
track at the lagoon of the marked trees."
" If you remember," replied Brown, " the track
was not very plain close to the lagoon."
" I had at last to give up in despair " (went on
the journal), "and make my way as best I could
back to the mountain. How long I was away
I cannot say, for I lost count. It seemed to me
weeks, but I think it was about a fortnight.
"I was now thoroughly convinced of the
hopelessness of my situation, and determined to
return to the lake and finish my weary life
amongst the tribe there, devoting my time to
teaching them what I could.
A HOPELESS SITUATION. 147
"Onkimyong was delighted to see me back.
I rested for some time, as I had two or three
things to do before leaving. One was to show
the natives how to build a stone barricade, and
the other was to inscribe my initials in some
place where it was bound to be seen by any
whites who might hereafter come. I selected
a place at the foot of the hill for the barricade,
and set the blacks to work, under the super-
intendence of Onkimyong. From its position
and altitude I concluded that any whites coming
to the place would naturally ascend the hill to
obtain a good survey of the surrounding country ;
I therefore inscribed my initials and the date of
the year on a rock on the summit, doing the
work with the aid of the knife I had found in
the cave. I lingered on for some time longer in
the hope that the Warlattas would make another
attempt, and this they did the night before we
were going to leave.
" Fortunately their approach was discovered
in ample time, and I had my men all concealed
behind the barricade. The Warlattas approached
very cautiously, not with the confidence of their
first attempt. We allowed them to come pretty
close, and then commenced to play on them with
our arrows. As soon as I saw them waver and
halt, I gave a signal agreed upon, and the
natives swarmed out and attacked them with
their clubs and spears.
"There seemed to be no hesitation this time,
148 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
with one accord the Warlattas fled. The pur-
suers did much more execution than the first
time, as they had a better start. I hope now the
Warlattas have received another check.
" Onkimyong and I started back the next day,
we followed our tracks back again, as I felt
curious about the gold-bearing reef. When we
came to it I examined it thoroughly, and I then
found that it was, what seemed to me, of fabu-
lous richness. I laughed aloud. Here was I with
a fortune at my feet, and it was of no more
value to me than worthless flints. It was the
very mockery of riches!
" In time we arrived at the lake, and met with
a great welcome, as they had given us up as lost.
I had been in fear that the Warlattas, finding I
was away, might have attempted another assault,
but they had not put in an appearance.
"I have now quite relinquished any hope I
had left of finding my way back by my own
exertions, and can only pray that some other
exploring party with better fortune may come
here before I die."
THE ANCIENT AUSTRALIANS. 149
CHAPTER XVIII
Conclusion of Stuart's Journal Examination of the
Slaughter Chamber The Ancient Australians.
I HAVE made no other discoveries since my
return, and all the efforts I have spent in try-
ing to decipher the inscriptions have been in vain.
I can only conjecture that these relics are of
great antiquity, and that the belief and some of
the rites, notably cannibalism, survive amongst
the Warlattas, who are mixed and degenerate
descendants of the ancient race. I have very
little paper left, and that scrap I must keep for
any necessity that arises. If anybody finds this
let him take a copy of the inscriptions, for there
may be some men in the world who can decipher
their meaning.
" 1865. I have devoted myself to bettering
the condition of this tribe, whom I may say I
have adopted. I have taught them to build
better huts, and clothe themselves partly in
skins. The Warlattas' inroads have been abso-
lutely stopped. They have learnt to cultivate
yams here, and some of the young men under-
stand written signs. One thing I could not in-
duce them to do with all my influence, that is, for
a party of them to go east with me and find out
the track by which the Warlattas cross the
150 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
sandy desert. Some superstitious feeling I can-
not overcome will not allow them to do this.
" I might have done much more, but latterly I
have been nearly crippled with rheumatism. I
have instructed the natives to bury me in the
cave under an inscription I have cut my name
and the date of my arrival. When I feel my-
self near my end, unless I die by accident, I will
try and inscribe the last date on the stone, it
will stand for my death year. If my companions
had lived, we might have worked our way back
to the settlements, but alone it was hopeless to
attempt it. I know my end must be near, nor
am I sorry, for I have outlived all hopes of
succour. I thank God that though I have lived
so long amongst these savages, I have not sunk
down to be one of them in their habits, but
rather have taught them better things. To
the white man that finds this I leave the greeting
and the blessing I would have given him in life."
"What would I not have given to have got
here in time to rescue him ! " said Brown. " He
was a man worth saving."
Next morning they took some more presents
to the natives at the hill, and the old men went
round with them and showed them the roofless
stone huts, the dismantled barricade, and the
remains of other improvements now all in ruins.
The death of Stuart seemed to have been a
signal for a return to their old habits of life, his
M&4
MORTON AND
HIS I'ARTY EXAMINE THE SLAUGHTER CHAMBER
THE ANCIENT AUSTRALIANS. 151
stay amongst them not having been long enough
to make a lasting impression.
Even the bows and arrows had disappeared;
and it was evident that the Warlattas had
resumed warlike operations with a success
resulting in the almost complete extermination
of the tribe. Morton endeavoured to explain to
them that their enemies were dead, but it was
doubtful whether the old men comprehended
him. An immediate incursion into the inner
cave was determined on, and, provided with
candles, the party soon found themselves at the
opening. The sand had worked in and some-
what blocked up the space, but this was soon
sufficiently removed to enable them to wriggle
underneath like snakes. Half a dozen candles
served to brilliantly light up the inner chamber,
and there, with startling distinctness, shone out
the white triangle over the sacrificial stone.
Brown started the stone rocking, and immedi-
ately the shrill, half-human screams echoed
through the cave, much to Billy's discomfiture.
No examination could detect the trick that
caused the sound, nor could the presence of the
stone be accounted for except as a most singular
freak of nature.
"I have it," said Morton at last; "the stone
was part of the rock and has been cut away
underneath. It must have been an awful job,
but that is how it was done,"
"And about the squeaking machinery?"
152 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"That's more than we can find out without
shifting the stone, and that's a job I am not on
for unless we stop here a month or two and chip
it in pieces."
"A charge of dynamite would shift it; and
next time I go exploring I'll carry some," replied
Brown.
" What do you think the thing was made for?"
inquired Charlie.
"Well, I've just had an inspiration," said
Brown. "You know amongst some nations it
is a matter of religious belief almost that you
must make your enemy howl when you have
got him down. Now, perhaps some of the poor
devils who were cut up on this stone declined to
sing out, or fainted, or for some reason did not
furnish amusement enough the stone was set
rocking to fill out the programme. What do you
think?"
" I think it most likely, and is an instance of
devilish cruelty on a level with their other pro-
ceedings."
" I suppose poor Stuart searched this place so
thoroughly that we need not expect to find any-
thing fresh," said Charlie. " But we may as well
have a look. Billy, you have got sharp eyes,
just use them."
While these two were investigating the walls
and floor, Morton and Brown took a careful copy
of the hieroglyphics and a sketch of the cave,
showing the position of the sacrificial stone and
THE ANCIENT AUSTRALIANS. 153
triangle. By the time they had finished they
were ready for their mid-day meal, and returned
to camp for it.
"There's no doubt," remarked Morton, "that
what we have just seen are relics of an ancient
people, but what I can't understand is, why, if
they were civilized enough to wear dresses, and
to have a developed religious belief savage as
it was " (" No worse than the Carthagenians,"
interjected Brown), "to know how to obtain iron
and temper it, that they did not build permanent
buildings, the ruins of which would remain?"
" Mud, my dear fellow, mud," replied Brown.
"Remember the nations who have disappeared
off the face of America, and can only be traced
by their pottery and burial mounds. Why, the
gorgeous cities of ancient Mexico were built of
mud bricks, which go back to their mother earth,
once the domiciles they form are abandoned."
" But their smelting- works for manufacturing
iron?"
" There you have me. But we must try and
find that knife; perhaps they buried it with
Stuart."
" Billy got something from one of the old men,
but I don't know what it was," said Charlie.
"Billy! What old man bin give it?" asked
Morton.
Billy grinned, and produced from the inside
of his shirt the knife mentioned in the journal.
It was a curious-looking blade about a foot long,
154 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
broad and somewhat curved. Even after the
work Stuart had done with it in carving on the
rocks, it was as sharp as an ordinary knife.
"That's a Malay weapon," said Brown, after
examination. " Whoever our ancient Australians
were they came from the north. I suppose we
must wait until we get the writing deciphered,
if there is a man clever enough to do it."
Looking closer, they found that the blade had
the mysterious triangle engraved on it. This con-
stantly recurring symbol led to much speculation
as to whether they were not an offshoot of Free-
masons, who in some remote time had wandered
into central Australia; but as Charlie ingenuously
reminded them that these fellows had not built
anything, the theory had to be discarded.
" What's to be done next?" said Morton. " I'm
for going to find Hentig's grave, if possible, and
recovering the papers buried there."
"Yes, and then go back round by the way
Stuart went to the mountain tribe and track up
the gold reef."
" Not a bad idea, anyhow. I think it will be
the safest way to go home."
That afternoon, Billy, with the aid of one of the
old men, found a canoe not far below the surface,
and brought it up and bailed it out. Then it
transpired that on the last onslaught of the
Warlattas they had sunk all the canoes. The
one recovered was a large one, fitted up with
outriggers, and leaked but very little. Charlie
THE ANCIENT AUSTRALIANS. 155
soon improvised a mast by lashing two spears
together, and with a blanket for a sail announced
himself ready to face the dangers of the deep.
Morton agreed to join him in his voyage of dis-
covery round the lake the next morning, but
Brown preferred to stay and continue the investi-
gation of the cave drawings.
Next morning there was a gentle breeze blow-
ing, and Morton and Charlie were soon afloat
and off. Brown wandered over the hill, telling
Billy to try and make the blacks understand the
catastrophe of the burning mountain.
Several lesser caves attracted his attention,
but only one seemed to promise any result. To
this one he devoted himself, and after some
trouble found some inscriptions resembling the
former one in character, but differing in the
arrangement of the letters. In this case they
were placed perpendicularly in two parallel lines.
After copying the inscription, Brown stood in
thought for some time, mechanically thrusting a
yam stick he held in his hand into the sandy
floor of the cave. The soil over the bed rock in
this cave was apparently only a few inches in
depth, but suddenly he was roused from his
reverie by the yam stick going down more than
a foot without meeting with any opposition.
Sounding hastily, he soon found that a trench
extended at right angles to the rock, immediately
under the inscription. Going outside he shouted
loudly, and Billy and some of the blacks came
156 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
running up. He set them to work to clear all
the sand away from the trench and its neighbour-
hood with their hands, and it was soon visible
artificially cut in the rock. It was about three
feet long and a foot broad, so the work of clear-
ing it out did not promise to take long.
With so many hands going, the depth of three
feet was soon reached without anything being
discovered; then the fingers of the workers came
in contact with something hard, and very soon a
sheet of metal was disclosed, cut exactly to fit
the hole. Brown at once recognized it as re-
sembling the gongs used at the burning moun-
tain. Greatly excited, in spite of his usual
assumption of calmness, Brown inserted the
point of the yam stick under the metal and
prised it up.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Grave of one of the Unknown Kace Morton's
Departure Charlie falls Sick.
THE shadow cast by the sides of the hole was
too dark for Brown to see at once what
sort of treasure he had unearthed, but a nearer
inspection did not afford him any more satis-
faction. Apparently there was nothing beneath
the sheet of metal but a deposit of damp, mouldy
earth, emitting a pungent smell of a most re-
CHARLIE FALLS SICK. 157
pulsive nature. Brown drew back somewhat
sickened, and told the natives to clean out the
trench while he went out for a breath of fresh
air.
In a few minutes he returned. The heap of
mould alongside the now empty hole told him
that the work was finished. The blacks were on
their knees, eagerly examining some objects they
had found amongst the contents of the trench.
Billy handed them to Brown. The first was
a chain of small steel links and most beautiful
workmanship, bearing as a pendant a tiny tri-
angle formed of the same metal. A metal plate
nearly a foot square, covered with hieroglyphics
similar to those inscribed on the walls of the
cave, was the next thing he examined, and then
came a dagger resembling the one already dis-
covered. This, however, had a handle, or what
appeared to be one, made of finely -twisted gold
threads wound tightly round the haft. This was
all. Brown puzzled over these relics for some
time, and then strolled to the crest of the ridge
to see how the voyagers were getting on.
Apparently they had experienced what is known
as a soldier's wind, for the canoe was coming
back with a flowing sail. Brown and Billy
walked down to the shore of the lake to meet
them. The trip had been uninteresting; the
lake was exceedingly shallow everywhere with
the exception of the end where they were.
There it was deep and permanent. Brown told
158 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
them of the discovery he had made, and they
revisited the cave together.
" It's my opinion," said Morton after lengthy
examination, " that it is a grave, and this mould
all that there is left of a body probably
burnt before being put in the grave. The neck-
let, plate, and dagger are the ornaments and
weapon worn by the man at the time of his
death. He must have been some great priest."
" The same conclusion that I have been work-
ing round to," replied Brown. "That plate is
a priestly breastplate, like those we read of in
the Old Testament."
The question of visiting Hentig's grave was
one that was now discussed. It was settled
at last that Morton and Billy would make
the trip, leaving Brown and Charlie to con-
tinue the investigation of the caves, and also
to come out with relief in case Morton was
overdue. By careful computation they thought
they could pretty well guess the course pursued
by the three white men from the last water to
the lake. With two horses packed with water
they reckoned they could get out and back
without much trouble, even if there was no
water at the marked tree.
Morton and Billy therefore started early the
next morning, for although the night would
have been cooler to cross the spinifex desert,
they might have missed some important indica-
tions in the dark. Four days was the utmost
CHARLIE FALLS SICK. 159
limit Morton allowed himself; Brown was then
to start on his tracks, as something would have
probably happened to the horses.
Left at the lake, Brown and Charlie devoted
themselves to a searching examination of the
locality. Several trees marked with an anchor,
similar to the one at the lagoon camp, were
discovered, evidently the work of Murphy, who
had seemingly appropriated the symbol. A
mark resembling a rude K was seen once or
twice, and they took it to stand for Kelly's
handiwork.
They sounded the caves all over but without
any more success, and at last concluded that they
had found all there was to be found.
The sun was high the morning of the third
day when Brown returned from his swim in the
lagoon, and, to his surprise, found Charlie still
sleeping, with a hot flush on his face. Brown
aroused him, and the boy sat up and looked
vacantly around, recovered himself after a bit,
and proceeded to get up. He refused to eat
anything, but drank a good deal of tea. Brown
watched him anxiously.
" What's the matter, old boy?" he asked.
" I don't feel up to the mark. I had a
wretched nightmare last night; it kept me
awake afterwards until nearly daylight, so that
I overslept myself."
" I feel off colour too," replied Brown. " Last
night I could have quarrelled with my own
160 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
shadow. I hope we didn't release any evil
spirit from that grave."
" Don't say that," replied Charlie, " for that is
just what I dreamt. Strange that you should
think the same."
"Tell me about it, sonney," said Brown.
" We'll soon fix up any intrusive old ghost."
Charlie, as he could see, was upset by some-
thing, and Brown felt uneasy, as the thought of
sickness overtaking one of their party became
patent to him.
" I dreamt," commenced Charlie, " that I was
on the edge of this lake. I was alone, and very
frightened with a quite unnatural terror. I
thought you had both gone away and left me.
I tried to cry out but could not, and turned
round, for I felt some fearful thing was approach-
ing me from behind. True enough, the great
figure from the cave was there, looking at me
with terrible eyes. On its breast was the plate
we found in the grave, and I could read the
characters written on it."
Charlie paused.
"What was the writing?" asked Brown, in-
terested by the boy's earnestness.
" I can shut my eyes and see it now. It ran
'The Spirit of Evil is everywhere. Worship
then the Spirit of Evil only, and do his behests!
As I looked and read the figure smiled mock-
ingly at me, and I woke up in a cold perspiration,
and could not sleep again."
CHARLIE FALLS SICK. 161
" Charlie, my boy," said Brown, " we will
discuss your dream by and by. Meantime, I am
going to mix you a dose of quinine and brandy;
you've got a touch of malarial fever coming on.
Now I'll fix up a bough-shade for you; it will
be cooler than the tent, and you must keep quiet
all day."
Brown soon had a good shade of boughs
erected, and making up as comfortable a b<;d as
he could for the sick lad, he stopped with him
all day. Charlie was very feverish, but towards
sundown he fell into an uneasy sleep, and Brown
went for a stroll up and down and smoked
his pipe. " This is a lively look-out," he mused.
"I hope those devilish old rites don't mean
to claim another victim. Dreamt we both went
away and left him!" Brown's eyes grew moist
as he thought of the possibility of the words
coming true in one sense, and Charlie being left
in a solitary grave by the side of the lake. " If
Morton does not turn up to time what a fix I
shall be in, for I can't go and look for him."
Charlie passed a restless night, and towards
the middle of the ensuing day he became deliri-
ous. This was the margin of Morton's return,
but the sun set, and Brown strained his eyes in
vain across the plain.
Charlie's delirium was at its height that night.
Always he raved of the great figure in the cave
standing over and threatening him.
The fifth day passed and still no sign of
(M64) L
162 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Morton, and Brown was nearly distracted at the
thought that his friend was in some difficulty,
expecting him to come to his relief, and he could
not leave the sick boy for an hour. He passed
the night once more by Charlie's side, trying to
soothe him and listening to his incoherent mut-
terings. It was about three o'clock in the morning
when Charlie, who had been quiet for some time,
dropped off to sleep. The silence that ensued
was broken by a sound more grateful to Brown
than anything else he could possibly have heard
the distant sound of a horse-bell. There was no
doubt about it, the horses were coming rapidly
across the plain, and evidently being driven, the
bell having been loosened as is generally done
when travelling with pack-horses at night. On
they came at a sharp trot, for they were no doubt
thirsty and knew where they were coming to.
Brown listened till they ran down the opposite
bank and commenced drinking, then he knew by
the voices that Morton and Billy were both
there, and called across to them.
" That you, Brown ? " came back in reply.
"Yes; I could not go out as I promised."
" Glad you didn't, as it happened. But what's
up?"
" I'll tell you as soon as you come round, but
come quietly."
Brown walked a little distance to meet them,
and they unpacked the horses where they met
so as not to disturb Charlie, who was still sleeping.
A FURTHER DISCOVERY. 163
Brown told Morton in a low voice, and they
went into the tent together. Charlie was mut-
tering in his sleep, and it was still of the figure
on the wall. They went out and sat by the fire,
where they could hear the slightest sound, and
Morton told Brown all that had passed since he
left.
CHAPTER XX.
Morton's Trip to Hentig's Grave A further Discovery.
WHEN we left the lake that morning," began
Morton, " we passed, of course, over a few
miles of good downs country before we came to
the edge of the desert, then we had nothing to
do but keep straight on the course we had
selected until night, when we had to camp in
the spinifex. Next evening we came straight to
the water-hole. It was a splendid fluke, and I
never expected such luck. There was a good
supply of water in the hole and fair grass, so we
were not badly off. I found the tree where
Hentig was buried, although the cross that Stuart
cut had nearly grown out. The powder-flask,
however, had been only buried a short distance
in the ground, and as the bush rats had dug it
up it had rusted and rotted almost to pieces.
We found some of the contents, but the writing
is almost if not quite illegible, as the paper has
164 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
been soaked into pulp two or three times. As
far as I can make out, though, it was written by
Leichhardt himself, and as such will be valuable.
Now I come to what detained me. Billy, whom
I told to look on all the trees about the water-
hole for marks, found a couple of initials on
three of the trees. Of course the sides of the
bark had grown together, and could only be
traced like a crack in the bark. I made these
initials out to be L. F. If you remember, Stuart
mentions that the two men who were lost never
reached this water, but one of them must have
got in to it after Stuart left. I say one of them,
because the same initials were repeated. I lay
awake for a long time reasoning the thing out.
When Stuart and the others left there was no
water in the hole, they used up the last of it;
therefore, this man must have come back after
rain had fallen, probably some months after, for
he could not have stayed about cutting his
initials on trees without water. He must cer-
tainly have found other water. Where was it?
If I could find it I might get further informa-
tion.
" In the morning I sent Billy back along our
tracks with a note in a cleft stick, which he was
to stick up right on our tracks. In the note I
told you to come on, as there was plenty of water
in the hole. Billy had instructions to ride till
noonday, then stick the stick in with a handker-
chief tied to it, and come back again. All this
A FURTHER DISCOVERY. 165
he did, meanwhile I went fossicking about. The
hole was on the edge of the plain, the same as
the lagoons we were camped on so long. I went
north first, and presently was able to find a kind
of water-course skirting the forest. Once or
twice I came to holes that should hold water for
some time, but they were all dry. At last I was
rewarded. I came to a fair-sized lagoon, with
ducks and other waterfowl on its surface. There
was no sign of the place ever having been much
frequented by natives, at least I only saw some
very old camps at first. At the end of the hole
opposite to me was an old shell of a gum-tree,
one of these desert gums that grow to a very old
age and become quite hollow. As I looked at
this I saw something move, and then, looking
more intently, I could see some blue smoke steal-
ing up. Naturally I made for the place as soon
as possible, wondering if I was going to find a
living white man. When I reached the spot I
found a small fire burning, and in the tree an
ancient old gin was squatting. She was almost
blind, and could just make out that something
was moving about, for she snarled and struck
out feebly but viciously with a yam stick. Oh,
she was a cheerful old lady!
" I was puzzling my brains how she lived, for
she seemed too feeble to move and was too blind
to see anything distinctly; for all that there
were plenty of feathers around the camp, al-
though she could never have caught the birds.
166 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Presently the old dame, still growling to herself,
crawled out on her hands and knees to the fire,
to which she seemingly guided herself by the
sense of smell. Here she squatted down, and I
hung my horse up and went to look at her lair
in the tree. There was an iron tomahawk
shipped on to a black's handle, a single-barrelled
percussion shot-gun, and all sorts of little odds
and ends. Evidently this survivor must have
found a lot of things abandoned at the old camp
at Hentig's grave. Just then my horse shook
himself, making the saddle rattle and jingle.
On hearing this the old gin set up the most
awful screaming you ever heard. When she
quietened down someone called out to her
from a short distance away, and looking in
the direction, I saw a light -coloured nigger
limping towards us. He stopped and had a
good look at me before approaching; I held up
both my hands as a sign of amity, and he came
on pretty fearlessly. I then saw that he was a
half-caste and a cripple. One leg had been
broken in childhood and he had grown up with
it shorter than the other, and much distorted.
That he was a descendent of the missing white
man I had no doubt, but the old gin appeared
too old to be his mother. He came up to me, and
when I spoke to him seemed greatly pleased,
and pointing to himself said "Lee-lee" two or
three times, indicating that that was his name.
I gave him my name in return, which he soon
A FURTHER DISCOVERY. 167
picked up. He then led me to the tree, and taking
the gun out put it to his shoulder and cried out
in imitation of a report, showing that he had
often seen it used. I pointed to the feathers,
and he showed me two or three light boomerangs
and a fishing-net. I tried to find out if he knew
anything of the lake, but he seemed quite ignor-
ant of its existence. I imitated death to find
out what had become of his father, and he led
me to a place where he indicated he was buried,
but I could see no sign of a grave. He knew
two or three words of English, water, gun, tree,
and bird; and I think he must at one time have
known much more, but had probably lost them
since his father's death, who, I think, must have
been a man of the same intellectual calibre as
Murphy, and quite uneducated. He explained
by signs that his leg had been broken by a
branch breaking when he was climbing a tree as
a little fellow. Suddenly it struck me that there
might be more in the family, and after some
trouble he led me to believe that there were, but
bhey had gone away with the tribe to the north.
He limped heavily to show me that he had been
left behind because he could not travel fast
enough, and I concluded that the old gin who
had been left was no relation of his, but had
stayed behind from infirmity. Lee-lee seemed
very active and clever, considering the disadvan-
tage he laboured under, and I made up my mind
to bring him in to the lake. He, however, did
168 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
not seem anxious to go at first, but I showed him
the empty gun, of which he was very proud, and
made him understand that if he came with me I
would make it alive again, which he seemed to
approve of highly. Fortunately there were some
boxes of caps amongst his belongings, as ours are
all breech-loaders. He knew the hole where
I was camped, and intimated that he would come
down in the morning. All this took some time,
and it was late at night when I got back to camp,
where I found Billy blubbering under the im-
pression that I was not coming back again.
Lee-lee duly turned up the next morning, and
Billy tried to talk to him, but did not make
much of a fist at it. He said that he thought
some of the words were the same as those used
by the lake natives. Lee-lee knew nothing of
the Warlattas ; and, if you remember, the defunct
Columbus told us that there were no natives to
the north. I gave him sugar, which he highly
appreciated, then we saddled up and went up to
his lagoon, which I reckoned to be nearly fifteen
miles away, so that he must have started pretty
early in the night to come to us. I fixed him up
on one of the pack saddles, and he got on very
well considering.
" The forest bears to the westward, and I in-
tended to start straight to the lake from Lee-
lee's lagoon. The difficulty was about the old
gin. If left behind she would starve, and I did
not see how we were to get her across the desert.
A FURTHER DISCOVERY. 169
I explained the dilemma to Lee-lee, who seemed
to understand. Suddenly a bright idea struck
him. He picked up his nulla-nulla and indicated
that the easiest way to settle the question was
by knocking her on the head. He appeared
rather surprised at my objecting somewhat
angrily to this simple and easy method, and I
am not sure that Billy did not agree with him.
" I thought that as your ideas have been so
brilliant lately, that we might devise some
means of getting the old gin safely across the
desert, and making these fellows and Lee-lee
friends, so that, if we make up our minds to take
him back with us, the old woman would not
starve, for there is plenty of food about here.
I gave Lee-lee to understand that I would be
back in three days; but, of course, that is knocked
on the head, we must get Charlie well first.
Now, old man, you've had no sleep for two
nights. I will sit by Charlie, and you can have
a snooze until daylight. Watching is far more
tiring than riding."
As Brown really felt somewhat tired out, he
adopted the suggestion and retired to his blan-
kets.
Charlie was no better in the morning, and
Morton felt quite cast down at the sad fate now
looming, only too plainly, before his young rela-
tive, for whom he entertained a great liking.
About mid-day Brown suddenly arose as though
filled with a new idea. He went off in the
170 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
direction of the hill where the blacks were
camped, and Morton did not see him for nearly
two hours, then he said he had only been over to
see how the niggers were getting on, and was
silent and abstracted until darkness fell, when he
persuaded Morton to go and rest while he kept
watch by the invalid.
Morton, who had been riding and watching all
the night before, slept late. When he awoke he
saw Brown standing by the fire smoking.
"How is he?" he asked, as he took his towel
to go for a swim in the lake.
" Better, I think; he has been sleeping quietly
all night without talking. When he wakes up
he will be sensible, I think."
" That's good news," returned Morton. " I shall
be glad to see the boy up again. What a blessing
it was that this thing happened in a good camp
with plenty of game of all sorts ! We must feed
Charlie up well now."
Brown puffed on, looking steadily in the fire.
"I suppose you will think me no end of a
fool for what I have done," he went on at last.
"But I have not been able to help associating
Charlie's illness with my opening that grave and
taking out that devilish old plate. I have had
that same dream that Charlie had, and could
plainly see the plate and the inscription on it
about the Spirit of Evil. I believe if I had not
done what I have done not one of us would have
got back alive."
THE FINAL DEPARTURE. 171
"What was that?" asked Morton.
"Took it back to the grave yesterday and
filled the whole thing up, and now Charlie is
going to get better. What's the verdict?"
" Well, I was going to call you a thundering
old idiot, but in view of the circumstances I
won't. It must have been a tribe of devil
worshippers who originally squatted down here."
" That's a weight off my mind. I thought you
would have cut up rusty, for there's no doubt of
the value of that relic. But we have copies of
all the inscriptions."
Charlie awoke conscious, and soon began to
mend so quickly, that in a few days they were
talking of going back to bring Lee-lee in.
CHAPTER XXI.
Lee-lee brought to the Lake Charlie's Recovery Final
Departure from the Lake.
THE question of getting the infirm old gin
across the desert was a somewhat puzzling
one.
Charlie, who was fast gaining strength, pro-
posed making Billy and some of the other blacks
carry her by turns on a litter of boughs. Brown
reminded him that Stuart had found it impossible
to get the natives to go to the eastward, so he did
172 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
not imagine that they would have any better
success.
" We must tie her on to a horse, somehow," said
Morton at last. And that was all the conclusion
they could arrive at.
Charlie was not yet strong enough to stand a
long ride, but he felt sufficiently restored to stay
behind with only Billy for a companion. So
Brown and Morton went back, Charlie having
promised to start Billy to meet them with fresh
horses on a day appointed.
Lee-lee was anxiously looking out for them,
but seemed greatly astonished at seeing two
white men. Brown's height, too, appeared to
excite his admiration, as it did that of all the
blacks they met.
Morton had brought some powder and shot,
procured by opening some of their cartridges, as
he thought that if he made the gun alive again
Lee-lee would come without any difficulty.
" How strange," said Brown, " that these three
white men should have lived so long separated
from each other and yet within reach."
"I don't know that," replied Morton. "It's
rather hard for a man on foot to get about in
this country. Remember we have fresh horses,
and know where the water is."
Morton inspected the gun.
" I suppose it won't burst," he remarked.
There was a rude ramrod in it, and with a
piece of his handkerchief torn off he proceeded
THE FINAL DEPARTURE. 173
to wipe it out. Then he loaded it, Lee-lee watch-
ing with great excitement; the old gin, uncon-
scious of their presence, squatting over the half
dead fire.
A crow flew, cawing, overhead and settled on
a neighbouring tree. Lee-lee pointed eagerly at
the bird. Morton raised the gun and fired.
The crow fell down with an angry caw, and
the old gin gave a wild scream and tumbled
forward on to the fire.
Lee-lee limped after the bird, and the two
white men hauled the gin off the fire, which
fortunately was nearly out, and dusted the ashes
off her.
"You couldn't possibly have hit her?" said
Brown.
" Not unless this old blunderbuss shoots round
corners. It's the sudden fright."
They put the old creature in the shade, and
then the two friends started for a stroll round
the lagoon.
When they returned Lee-lee pointed to the old
gin as though highly amused at something. She
had solved all the difficulties of transport across
the desert. She was dead!
" That start I gave her firing off the gun did
it," said Morton, sorrowfully; " but she could not
have lived much longer."
They indicated to Lee-lee that they would help
him bury the old gin; then they saddled up and
rode to Hentig's camp, as Brown wanted to see
174 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
the place, and Morton to recover the pieces of the
old powder-flask, which he had neglected to secure
on his first visit. With a tomahawk they re-cut
the cross on the tree where the remains of Hentig
rested.
They got back to Lee-lee's lagoon soon after
dark, and devoted an hour or two to packing up
all the curious collection of stuff that had so long
been hoarded up.
Next morning they made a very early start,
as, the half-caste being quite new to riding, they
had to go slow. They camped in the desert that
night, and about the middle of the next day met
Billy coming along the tracks with fresh horses
for them. He reported Charlie as being nearly
well and everything being safe at the camp.
Late in the afternoon, just after they caught
sight of the lake, they heard an outcry behind.
Looking around they saw Lee-lee limping back,
and Billy, who was laughing loudly, pursuing
him. It turned out that Lee-lee got a sudden
fright at seeing the great sheet of water for the
first time, and tumbled off his horse and tried to
run back. He seemed reassured after a while,
and went on quietly for the rest of the way.
Charlie was up and looking nearly as well as
ever, and had a fine meal of fish and ducks
waiting for them. Lee-lee seemed surprised at
the appearance of still a third white man, but
took everything else, including his supper, as
a matter of course.
THE FINAL DEPARTURE. 175
Next morning they went over to the black's
camp accompanied by Lee-lee. The young
fellow who had been wounded was getting
rapidly well, Morton or Brown having attended
to him and dressed his wound every day. It
was soon evident that there was little or no
language in common between the two tribes,
with the exception of a few words used nearly
everywhere in the interior. They had lived and
died year after year unconscious of each other's
existence.
"We have accounted now for all of Leich-
hardt's party but one, and he, I think, must have
died when the two were separated from the
main party," said Morton.
"He could scarcely have got back to where
they were attacked by the blacks in the scrub,"
replied Brown, " and if he had stuck to his com-
panion they would have found the water together.
No, he must have perished at the time."
"Now, how about Lee-lee?"
" I think we will stop here for a bit and let
Charlie get quite strong and Lee-lee broken into
riding a bit, then we will take him back to the
station. What do you think?"
"I think it is a good idea; we go round by
the way Stuart went and try and pick up his
gold reef."
" Yes. We must find out whether one of these
old men knows anything about the hole; they
ought to."
176 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
" Let's go over and make inquiries this after-
noon."
This they did, and found out that one of the
old men knew of the hole, and had been there
once when a young man. He made no objection
to going with them, corroborating in this respect
Stuart's journal.
They asked after Onkimyong, but, perhaps on
account of their faulty pronunciation, did not
at first make themselves understood. At last
one of the old fellows recognized the name, and
pronounced it after his own fashion. The
natives immediately pointed to where the bodies
lay in the old camp, and they understood that
Stuart's faithful companion had met his fate at
the hands of the fierce Warlattas, whom he had
so often helped to defeat. Both the men had
cherished the hope that he might be one of the
survivors, as they would then have taken him
with them to show them the exact road Stuart
travelled in his vain attempt to get away.
From the old men they tried to obtain a de-
scription of Stuart's personal appearance, but
beyond that he was tall like Brown and had
a gray beard, they could not get much informa-
tion.
They employed their spare time in rigging up
a makeshift saddle for Lee-lee to ride on; mean-
time he took his riding-lessons on one of theirs,
and got on famously. He was very proud of
being allowed to fire off his gun two or three
THE FINAL DEPARTURE. 177
times a day, and once succeeded in hitting a bird.
The time now drew near for their departure.
They could do nothing for the natives, but as
their enemies were dead, and they lived in a land
of plenty, there was no reason why the tribe
should not grow up again if they were allowed
to remain long enough unmolested.
The natives remained apathetically watching
the whites when they departed. Probably they
thought that as they came back once, according
to their belief, they would come back again.
The stage to the first water was not a long
stage on horseback, so the old man kept up with
them easily. He knew nothing beyond the
lagoon, however, so he was of no further use to
them, and they felt confident that they could
follow up Stuart's track from his journal. Next
morning they gave him a spare tomakawk they
had with them and allowed him to depart.
Brown, whom he still considered as " Tuartee ",
having to promise that he would return.
Lee-lee had got on very well with his first
day's journey, and they anticipated having no
trouble. He was quick and ready in the use of
his hands, and, moreover, he and Billy were begin-
ning to understand each other, so they hoped
soon to get his history in full. As they had
dry country ahead of them, scantily watered,
they spelled a couple of days at the white lagoon
as they christened it, on account of the milky
appearance of the water.
(M64) M
178 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
The first day's journey was through the weari-
some desert scrub described by Stuart. They
calculated what a long day's march on foot
would be, but when they had covered that
distance there was no sign of the salt lake.
" These salt lakes have no tributaries running
into them," said Brown; "they are just depres-
sions, with the surrounding country sloping into
the basin. We might be within a quarter of a
mile of it and miss it."
" We must find this one at anyrate, if we have
to go back and camp for a week at that lagoon,"
replied Morton.
"Well, it's still two or three hours off sun-
down, and we have plenty of water for to-night.
Suppose you go north and I go south. Charlie
and the boys stop here and keep a fire going
with plenty of smoke, so that we can get the
straight bearing to the camp if either of us drops
on it"
" Agreed. North is your lucky cardinal point,
so I will take the south."
They started in different directions, while
Charlie and Billy took the packs off the horses,
and tied them up to trees with their saddles still
on, for there was no feed.
Morton went on south for nearly an hour
without meeting with any change. He went
east and west for short distances as he returned,
but was unsuccessful in coming upon any clue to
the situation of the salt lake.
THE FINAL DEPARTURE. 179
Brown was equally unfortunate, until, just as
he was on the point of turning back, the un-
mistakable smell of burning scrub- wood struck
on his nostrils.
"It can't be from the camp," he thought;
" what little wind there is comes from the north."
He pushed on, and in a few minutes came to
an open area, and before him lay the salt lake.
There was a broad belt of mud surrounding
a centre of clear water, on which a varied lot of
wild fowl, including black swans and wild geese,
were swimming. On the slope descending to the
edge of the mud there was good short grass
growing, and at no distance away he saw the up-
piled earth indicating a native well. He rode
over to it, and dismounting found a fair supply
of water in it. It was slightly brackish, but
would do well enough for their horses, being
what is generally known as " good stock water ".
He next looked all round the lake for the fire
which he had smelt, and presently detected the
smoke a short way off, stealing out of the edge
of the scrub.
" Perhaps it's those six Warlattas," he thought,
" and they might be saucy seeing me alone."
He unslung his rifle from his saddle, and ad-
vanced with the bridle of his horse on his arm.
180 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
CHAPTER XXII.
Another Eemnant An Exodus Search for the Gold Eeef
and its Discovery.
AS he neared the spot he saw two or three
dark figures spring up, as though they then
first noticed him. Fearful that they would run
away, he called to them and held up one hand.
Presently an old man came to the edge of the
scrub. He peered at Brown from under his
hand, for the afternoon sun was in his eyes; then
he burst into a shout of "Tuartee! Tuartee!" so
like the blacks at the lake that Brown thought
some of them must have followed him. This, of
course, he knew to be almost impossible, and as
they were evidently of a friendly disposition, he
walked boldly up. There were only five blacks
in all, the old man and four youths. The young
fellows hung back, but the old man laughed
and stroked Brown affectionately, murmuring
"Tuartee" all the while. There was no doubt
that this was another wretched remnant of the
tribe formerly camped at the mountain, who
had escaped alive from the murderous attacks of
the Warlattas. Stuart would have lived affec-
tionately in the remembrance of those who were
old enough to remember him as their deliverer
on two occasions from their enemies.
It was getting late, however, and Brown told
THE GOLD REEF DISCOVERED. 181
them he would come back after the sun went
down, and left them, and rode hastily to camp.
It did not take long to replace the packs on the
horses, and by dusk they were all at the lake.
The horses drank the water freely, and were soon
enjoying the young grass. The number of the
blacks had been augmented by two gins, who
had been digging roots on the other side of the
lake when Brown first appeared.
" I've another brilliant idea," said Brown, when
they had finished their meal.
" Let's have it," replied Morton.
"These poor beggars have evidently sought
refuge in this howling wilderness from the War-
lattas. As things go, I should not think it
was a very choice place of residence they look
miserable enough."
" I know what you are going to propose," in-
terrupted Morton. "Get them on to the lake
and let them mate up with the others."
" Exactly. I think it feasible enough ; we shall
have to make this our headquarters while we
hunt up that reef. We are not pressed for time
nor rations, thanks to the game at the lake."
"And we sha'n't find that reef in a day, either,"
returned Morton. "We'll sleep on the idea."
Next morning Morton proposed an amendment.
Before the blacks left (if they could induce them
to do so), they should get the old man to guide
them to the soakage spring where Stuart camped
the night after he found the reef. This would
182 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
probably be on the usual route travelled by the
blacks, and would considerably contract the area
of their search. While this was going on, Billy,
who had learnt a little of the lake language,
would explain to the natives the advantage of
the change.
" We seem to be constituting ourselves a kind
of special providence for this part of the world,"
said Morton, as he finished.
" We have plenty of time to go to the spring
to-day, if we can make the old fellow understand
what we want."
This they did after some trouble, but it was
evident the native did not enjoy the idea of going
in that direction. However, as the two whites
started with him he finally consented. When
about what they considered half-way, Morton
and Brown parted, Brown going on with the
blackfellow, and Morton intending to devote a
few hours to searching around and then return-
ing to the salt lake. He found no indications,
however, to reward his trouble.
Brown turned up early the next day, the old
fellow having travelled sturdily. He had found
the spring well supplied with fresh water, but
had vainly tried to get anything out of his guide
of a heap of white stones anywhere in the neigh-
bourhood of the track they followed. However,
Brown thought by the formation of the country
about the spring that they could trace the line
back.
THE GOLD REEF DISCOVERED. 183
" How have you got on with these fellows with
regard to an exodus. This old fellow knows all
about the lake, but I don't think he has been
there."
" Oh, Billy has turned out a splendid orator.
He has been gesticulating to them, and fired their
imaginations with his descriptions of thousands
of wild ducks and millions of fish," said Charlie.
" Now, who is to go back and introduce them
to their future companions?"
"I'm all right now," returned Charlie; "Billy
and I will shepherd them across."
" It's a good road all the way, I think you will
manage it," replied Morton. "How about Lee-
lee?"
" We must take him with us when we go out
reef -hunting. He might run away if left by
himself here," said Brown.
" He is a pretty cute fellow and will help us,
if we make him understand what we are looking
for. Our camp and horses will be safe enough
all day; for, one way and another, the district is
getting pretty well depopulated."
The arrangements were so decided on, and the
next morning, under convoy of Charlie and
Billy, the survivors of the mountain tribe de-
parted for the promised land flowing with birds
and fish. After their custom the gins were
loaded up with what little camp furniture they
possessed, while the lordly male strode along
with nothing but a boomerang and a small throw-
184 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
ing-stick, without which no self-respecting black-
fellow would be seen.
Charlie, however, equalized matters by putting
what he could on one of the pack-horses, and
giving the gins a chance.
Morton, Brown, and Lee-lee set out in the
opposite direction. The first day they exhaus-
tively searched for some distance on either side
of the track taken by Brown and the old man,
but reached half-way to the spring without find-
out anything, and returned to the salt lake.
Next day Brown proposed that they should go
straight to the spring and work back. This
they did, taking a pack-horse with rations, and
leaving a note for Charlie in a conspicuous place,
lest they should be detained and he should come
back before they did.
The spring was at the foot of a small hillock
strewn with granite boulders. They turned out
the horses and started on foot to try and follow
the line of country whereon rock was visible on
the surface. They managed with great care to
keep to it until it was time to return. Next
morning they took their horses and rode out to
where they had left off. In the middle of the
day they turned out for a spell, having been
encouraged by finding occasional belts of quartz
and slate crossing the granite formation.
As they were smoking after their meal, Lee-
lee, who was sauntering about, came back, and
pointing on ahead, indicated that a heap of white
THE GOLD REEF DISCOVERED. 185
stones was there. Both men got up, and in a
few steps saw an outblow of quartz about a
hundred yards away. Hastening to it, they were
soon busy breaking stones and investigating.
They soon found that they had struck Stuart's
reef, or an outcrop on the same line. The stone
appeared to the finders fabulously rich, some of
it being powdered throughout with gold.
" Well, I suppose there's a fortune or two there,"
said Brown when their inspection was over.
" But it's in a deuce of an outlandish place."
"Wonder how far we are across the border
into Western Australia?"
"A good way, I expect; but we will keep the
reckoning very carefully as we go back."
"We have got all we want now; we will pick
out the best of the specimens and take them
with us."
"Yes; and go straight back to the salt lake
and wait for Charlie."
Picking out the richest and smallest specimens,
they packed them on the pack-horse and struck
in for the salt lake on a compass line. This gave
them the bearing from the salt pan, and was all
they wanted to find the place again.
Charlie did not return for a couple more days,
but as they had instructed him to take things
easy, they did not feel anxious.
He had taken his convoy safely to the lake,
and duly introduced the survivors of the two
tribes. Billy and he waited a day to make sure
186 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
that amicable relations were properly established
and had then returned, everything being peaceful
and satisfactory.
Another start was now made for the spring,
Brown, Billy, and Lee-lee going straight there
with the pack-horses, and Morton taking Charlie
round by the reef to show him the rich find.
From the top of the hillock at the back of the
spring the country looked scrubby, waste, and
desolate; but the outlook was not extensive, and
they could see nothing of the mountain they
were making for. It behoved them, then, to be
very careful, for the country ahead was evidently
very dry, and the direction to the creek with the
brackish water in it, of the vaguest.
They had a good many things at stake, the
safety of Stuart's journal containing the solu-
tion of the Leichhardt mystery, and the know-
ledge of the gold reef. They did not, then, wish
to meet with any disaster on their homeward
way.
" This is not an exciting sort of road," said
Brown, as they turned from fruitlessly scanning
the ocean of dull gray tree-tops, " but I think it
is a little superior to that abominable desert."
"Yes, well patronize this track if ever we
come back here; and I suppose we shall come
some day to sink on that reef, and see if it
goes down."
" If that is the only big show, the gold will be
pretty dear before we get it home; but if there
A SOLITARY CAMP. 187
is plenty more about, you will soon see a road
out here and a township too."
" Go on. A railway, and those gas-lamps and
bridges you reported seeing in the scrub."
"Why not? Both you and I have seen those
things spring up like magic in Australia, before
now."
" Well, I hope our luck will stick to us to-mor-
row and see us on to that creek."
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Dry Creek Brown has a Solitary Camp A
Mysterious Light.
IT is unfortunate," said Morton the next morn-
ing when they were preparing to start,
"that Stuart did not give a description of the
creek, or of the water where they camped the
next night."
"Yes, it's rather a game of blindman's-buff,
for they may have gone north or south of the
direct line."
"How far do you make it to the mountain
direct?" asked Brown.
A rough chart, compiled every night by dead
reckoning, had been kept since they started,
and Morton had been working it up the night
before.
188 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"Over one hundred miles; and if it is scrub
all the way, with sand underfoot, equal to one
hundred and fifty."
" No good, then, our striking straight for the
mountain and trusting to chance for finding
water on the way?"
"Too risky altogether. We must find this
brackish creek somehow."
"We can't get back the way we came to the
lake, for the last water we camped at must be
bone dry by this time."
" How about going round by Hentig's grave if
we are beaten back utterly?"
" Yes, as a last resource, we might try that.
Lee-lee could not help us, for I don't think he
ever stirred far from that lagoon where you
found him."
" Let us trust to our lucky star and get on
anyhow," returned Morton as he swung himself
into his saddle, and they were soon filing slowly
through the scrub.
The scrub consisted of mulga and a dense
undergrowth of lance wood, so that the progress
made was very slow. Moreover, it was a diffi-
cult thing to keep a straight course amongst so
many obstacles. With the exception that the
scrub was sometimes denser than usual they
experienced no change, until about two o'clock,
when they emerged into a small open space, and
Charlie exclaimed that they had come to a grave-
yard.
A SOLITARY CAMP. 189
The clearing they had entered was a white
clay flat, sparsely grown over with spinif ex, and
covered with ant-hills about three feet in height,
bearing a startling resemblance to the headstones
of graves.
The party halted, partly to discuss their move-
ments, and partly to have something to eat.
Morton, who finished first, mounted his horse
and rode in a southerly direction, telling the
others he would be back directly.
" The scrub is thinner to the south-east," he
said when he came back, " and beyond I can see
another flat like this. I vote we shift our
course for a few miles. This change of country
may mean that the creek is somewhere about
here."
Brown agreed to this, and Morton went ahead.
Passing through a belt of scrub they came to
another flat like the one they had left, but
somewhat larger. From this they passed through
thinner belts of scrub until the flat became con-
tinuous, still, however, covered with the ant-
hills.
Presently Morton pointed ahead, and a line of
creek gums of no great height was now visible.
The creek was bordered by a sandy flat with
some coarse grass on it. The water-course was
shallow, crossed here and there by bars of sand-
stone rock; but it was as dry as though water
had never been in it for years. It ran easterly.
" This is a lively look-out," said Morton. " Shall
190 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
we follow this creek down, or camp here and one
go up and one go down the creek?"
" If we find nothing wet we must retreat to
the spring to-morrow morning."
" We must; but if we all go on down the creek
and find nothing wet, as you express it, we shall
be too far to retreat."
""Does not this creek come from much the
same direction we came from?" asked Charlie.
" If it keeps the same course as it runs here,
it does," replied Morton.
"We are just as likely to find water up as
down," went on Charlie ; " but if we follow it up
we shall be getting nearer to the spring instead
of away from it, and if we don't find water can
easily cut across to it."
"And have much better travelling -ground
along this flat," said Brown. " Charlie, my boy,
we shall make a first-class bushmen of you
before we get home. Al, copper-fastened at
Lloyds."
Charlie's suggestion was unanimously accepted,
and the party turned up the creek, making for
the westward again. Morton elected to follow
the bed of the creek, whilst the others kept as
straight a course as they could along the flat.
The creek still continued dry, and no birds of
any kind were visible a bad sign. Like most
creeks running through the level interior it gave
indications every now and then of running out
altogether. At last, however, it grew narrower
A SOLITARY CAMP. 191
and deeper, and Morton saw a group of gum-
trees ahead, somewhat taller than those lining
the banks. There was a small bar of rocks
across the channel, and when he rode over this
he saw a pool of water before him fringed with
green reeds. The water looked strangely clear
as he rode down to it; his horse put his head
down to drink, but lifted it at once with a dis-
satisfied snort.
"I guess what's up," thought Morton, dis-
mounting. He stooped and lifted some water to
his lips with his scooped hand.
"Bah!" It was salter than brine.
Remounting, he rode up the bank and called
to the others, who were visible slightly ahead.
They waited when they saw him riding towards
them.
" I think we had better ride straight for the
spring," he said ; " there's water down there, but
it's salter than the Pacific Ocean."
" We have good travelling along here," replied
Brown. " I think we ought to keep on here as
far as we can and then strike off for the spring.
It doesn't much matter about water now, for the
spring can't be many miles off."
"You follow the creek, then, for a bit; you
seem luckier than I am. It does not much
matter about the water, as you say, but I should
like to know whether there was any fresh water
in it as well as salt."
Brown went off to the creek and they once
192 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
more started, until Morton calculated that a short
three miles through the scrub which was running
parallel to them would bring them to the spring.
He shouted to Brown and fired his revolver, and
when Brown joined them they turned off and
reached the spring at dusk.
" Back for the first time," said Morton, as they
unpacked at their old camp. "I wonder how
many times we shall have to return here."
" Lucky we have such a good camp to stand
by us," answered Brown. " We can always get
from here to the lake."
The next thing to consider was their move-
ments for the morrow. Morton suggested that
perhaps the clay formation altered the conditions
of the creek, and below, the water, if not fresh,
was at least only brackish.
"I doubt it," said Brown; "these clay forma-
tions generally carry salt."
" One of us had better take Billy and a couple
of horses packed with water. Let Billy go about
twenty miles, then, whoever goes on, give his
horse a couple of bags of water and hang the
others up on the branch of a tree against his
return."
"That's the only safe way," replied Brown.
" Who is to go, you or I?"
" You're the lucky one."
"No. You found Lee-lee; let's toss up."
" That's all right, but where's the coin?"
"Rather good," laughed Brown. "Men with
A SOLITARY CAMP. 193
a rich reef in their possession and can't raise a
copper to toss with."
" We must shake in the hat," replied Morton.
He tore up a leaf of his note-book, made a
mark on one scrap, doubled them up and shook
them together in his hat.
Brown drew the marked paper, and chose to
g-
" Don't run away with my share of the reef
while I am away," he said as he got on his horse
early the next morning, and, followed by Billy
driving the two horses, was soon lost to sight in
the scrub.
" We may as well go out and amuse ourselves
at the reef," said Morton ; " we can do nothing
until he comes back."
They saddled up, and spent the best part of
the day in knocking stones out and breaking
them, returning in the evening with a few extra
rich specimens to add to those they already
had.
"If we show these specimens when we get
home, won't somebody suspect, and follow our
tracks back?" said Charlie.
" If we are fools enough to show them," replied
his cousin; "but we'll take all sorts of good care
that we don't, until we are ready to come out
ourselves, and have pretty well located the place.
If Brown does not turn up before morning, we
will go out again to-morrow and see if we can
trace the reef any further."
(M64) K
194 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
Billy turned up with the two horses just at
dusk. He had accompanied Brown some miles
beyond where they turned back, but there had
been no change in the creek as far as he went.
Brown, meanwhile, kept on down the creek
after parting with the blackboy. It continued
enlarging, and contracting again, in the eccentric
manner of an inland water-course, but there was
no sign of water, fresh or salt.
The silence, lif elessness, and the gloomy neigh-
bourhood of the scrub on one side of him natur-
ally affected his spirits, and when night fell the
sense of loneliness was increased. As it was
useless going on in the dark, he determined to
give his horse a few hours' rest and then go
back.
" The moon rises at twelve o'clock," he thought;
" if I start then, I shall get back to the water-
bags by daylight."
He short-hobbled his horse, sat down at the
foot of a tree with his saddle at his back, and lit
his pipe. The great stillness of the desert sur-
rounded and oppressed him with the intensity of
its silence. Not a leaf rustled, not a night bird
could be heard; the jingle of his horse's hobble-
chain, and his munching as he cropped the grass,
was a welcome sound in that dreary waste. No
one knows what a companion a horse is until
he has passed a few solitary nights in the unin-
habited bush of the interior. Gradually Brown
felt sleep stealing over him.
A SOLITARY CAMP. 195
" I can afford to doze," he thought. " I'm pretty
uncomfortable, so I sha'n't sleep long."
His head fell back on his saddle, and he was
soon fast asleep. He awoke suddenly, feeling
stiff and unrefreshed. Springing to his feet, he
listened for the sound of his horse; but every-
thing was still.
" What a fool I was to go to sleep!" he thought.
"I expect my old prad has made back up the
creek, and I shall have to stump it to the camp.
Wonder what the time is."
He took his watch out of his pouch, and, the
starlight not being strong enough, struck a
match. Instantly he was agreeably startled by
a loud snort of surprise close to him, and his
horse, who had been lying down asleep, got on
his legs and shook himself. Brown felt so
relieved that he went over and patted and
stroked him.
" I thought you had left me in the lurch, old
fellow," he said, as he slipped the bridle over his
head, for it was nearly midnight, and he thought
he might as well make a start. As he stood up
after stooping to take the hobbles off, his atten-
tion was attracted by a brightness in the eastern
sky. "Moon rising," he thought, and led his
horse to the tree where his saddle was.
He saddled his horse and was about to mount,
when he noticed that the sky was no brighter,
and the glow was reddish in colour.
" Moon's rather long-winded," he muttered, and
196 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
stood there watching for its appearance; but it
obstinately refused to appear.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Fire to the East Brown returns to the Spring More
Dry Creeks Discovered.
T)ROWN stood patiently waiting for some
J3 minutes, and then the truth struck him. It
was not the moon rising; it was a bush fire, a long
distance away.
"Deuced queer," he thought, as he took out
his compass, struck a match, and took the bear-
ing of the glow. " It's too far for me to do any-
thing, even if I felt so inclined, which I don't.
Hullo! what's this?"
A bright light suddenly gleamed through the
trees a little to the south of the other. This,
however, was the moon in reality, and Brown
turned his willing horse's head towards home,
marvelling much at what he had seen.
" Fires travel any distance in this unoccupied
country," he thought, " and that one may have
come a hundred miles or more."
He reached the water- bags at sunrise, and gave
his horse their contents, then, having strapped
them on to his saddle, rode on and arrived at
the camp at the spring about noon.
MORE DRY GREEKS. 197
Morton could only account for the fire in the
same way that Brown did; that it must have
travelled a long distance, and that its presence
did not denote the existence of water. On his
part Morton was able to inform him that they
had found another outcrop of the reef that morn-
ing, nearly a quarter of a mile to the south,
and it appeared as rich as the one they had dis-
covered first.
The waste ahead, however, still sternly con-
fronted them.
"I wonder whether there is another creek
further south that this one runs into," said Mor-
ton; "or there may be one it joins to the north."
" Very likely ; this creek that has been hum-
bugging us does not look to me like a main one,
It nearly lost itself several times yesterday, and
when I camped it looked very sick."
"We can easily settle the question in a day;
to-morrow one go north and one south, as be-
fore."
"May I go this time?" said Charlie.
" You go north, and I'll go and crack stones at
the new reef," returned Brown.
So it was settled, and they spent a lazy after-
noon.
In the morning the two started in opposite
directions, and Brown went off to inspect the
new find.
Charlie, having been strictly cautioned to trust
to his compass only, went due north, and for ten
198 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
or twelve miles was surrounded by scrub. Then
he emerged in a strip of open country, and to his
great joy saw creek timber ahead. This water-
course was quite different to the one they had
been on it was more like a chain of shallow
lagoons, but all were dry and parched. Charlie
followed it for some distance, but there was no
sign of moisture, and, elated at having something
to report, he made his way back to the spring.
Strange to say, when Morton came in he too had
found a similar creek to the south, but also water-
less. Brown worked out the courses on a bit of
paper.
" It strikes me," he said, " that these two creeks,
if they run on as they were running where you
struck them, must junction in with the creek I
was on, not many miles below where I camped."
" Supposing we split up," said Morton. " Say
you and Charlie, with half the spare horses, follow
down the creek he found, and I and the boys will
follow down the one I found, with the rest of the
horses. We shall meet at the junction, if your
theory is correct. The party who gets there first
to wait for the others."
" But supposing there is no water in either of
the creeks?"
" We can get back here."
" If your creek junctions in above ours, or vice
versa, how is the party who arrives at the lower
junction to know that the other party is waiting
at the upper one?"
MORE DRY CREEKS. 199
"Hum!" said Morton; "that rather capsizes
the notion. But I think we can fix it by running
the creek up and down a bit."
" Well, I'm willing," returned Brown. " I don't
think we are such duffers as to miss each other
if we get anywhere within a few miles."
In the morning the plan mooted was carried
out, and they left the spring, as they hoped, for
good that journey. The creek Brown and Charlie
followed proved to be very serpentine in its
course. When they stopped for a mid-day spell
Brown worked out the dead reckoning, and came
to the conclusion that although they had come
over fifteen miles in distance, they had not made
more than ten in a direct course. Still the creek,
on an average, was bearing in towards the other
one, and they reckoned they must strike it late
in the afternoon.
As they went on the flat grew wider and the
empty water-holes further apart, but everything
bore the look of a prolonged drought. At four
o'clock they sighted the other creek ahead, but
there were no signs of the others.
"Wonder how your cousin got on?" Brown
said to Charlie. "Hurrah! there he is!" he re-
turned, as a horseman came into sight riding
down the bank of the old creek.
Morton pulled up when he caught sight of
them, and waited.
"Any water?" he asked when they came up.
"Not a drop. I don't think there has been
200 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
any in it since the time of Noah's flood. How
did you get on?"
" There was no water in the creek we followed,
but there is a decent hole where it junctions with
this one, about two miles up from here."
"Salt?"
"No, quite drinkable a slight sweet taste
about it."
" I expect there's more water in it than when
Stuart was here: these holes get salter as they
dry up. Do you think it is the hole he was at?"
" I think it must be," returned Morton, as they
turned and rode up the creek. "We ought to
be able to get through to the mountain now, even
if we don't come across that clay-pan."
" That's good news, at any rate. Did you see
anything of that fire?"
" There appears to be a heavy bank of smoke
to the eastward, but we must try and find a tree
this evening to have a look-out from."
The camp was a fairly good one, although the
grass was somewhat dry. After some searching
Brown and Morton found a gum-tree which they
could climb, but it was not of a sufficient height
to afford them a good view of the surrounding
country. They made out, however, that an ex-
tensive bush fire was raging to the eastward, and
when it fell dark the glow was plainly visible.
Brown said it was not as bright as when he saw
it, as though the fire was now working away
from them.
MORE DRY CREEKS. 201
The following day they started on a straight
course for the mountain on the creek, and rode
the whole day through a barren region of scrub.
That night the horses had to be tied up to trees,
for there was neither grass nor water for them.
However, they felt sure of arriving at the creek
the next day.
"We ought to be getting to that big plain
pretty soon," said Morton in the morning, as
they were making an early start. " That is, if
our reckoning is anyway near the mark."
They had scarcely been travelling an hour,
when they suddenly rode from the scrub on to
the plain, and before them in the distance, with
a black haze of smoke as a background, was the
mountain they were making for. The fire was
seemingly beyond the mountain, as the plain,
although covered with dry grass which would
have burnt freely enough, had not been burnt.
Once out of the scrub they travelled more
rapidly, and in the afternoon once more camped
at the base of the mountain. All the eastern
side of the creek was burnt bare, and when they
ascended the hill they could see that the fire had
ravaged most of the spinifex scrub and burnt up
the country to the north. The outlook was even
drearier than before, for the heat and flames
had scorched the leaves of the low trees, and
nothing but an expanse of dead foliage was
beneath them.
Fortunately there was good feed for their
202 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
horses on the bank of the creek and the islands
in its bed, and as the last two days had been
rather severe on them, they decided to rest for
a few days and inspect the surrounding country,
although it held out little inducement. How-
ever, they preferred stopping at where they
were to going back to their old camp at the
lagoons, where probably all the grass was burnt.
The first thing to do was to jot down the whole
of their course since leaving the lagoons and
correct it, which they were now able to do, as
they had arrived back at a known point. They
found that the dead reckoning had been very
well kept, and that their work closed in a satis-
factory manner.
An excursion down the creek on the following
day convinced them that it ran out and was
hopelessly lost in the sandy scrub that stretched
south and east. Next morning Morton was up
early at break of day, and climbing up the hill to
reach the summit before sunrise, which is the
best time to see long distances. To the east the
fire was still burning in the distance, but was
evidently now in a dying state. Morton had his
glasses with him, and commenced to carefully
scan the country. At last his attention became
fixed on one particular spot to the south. He
took a compass-bearing and descended the hill.
The others were up, and about to commence
breakfast.
" I've spotted that rock hill," said Morton.
MORE DRY CREEKS. 203
"What! The one Stuart says the old black-
fellow told him about?"
" I think so. You can't pick it out with the
naked eye, but with the glasses I can make it
out quite distinctly. A brown naked cone rising
out of the scrub."
" How far away is it?"
" Not more than fifteen miles, I should say. I
wonder that none of the niggers were able to
take Stuart to it."
"Do you intend going?"
" We may as well. I should like to know all
about the place before we go home."
" Well, I'm with you, old man."
Next morning they started on Morton's com-
pass-bearing. The distance was about what he
judged, and they made a very fair course.
The rock, surrounded by a small area of open
country, rose in a round-topped peak to an
altitude of about one hundred and fifty feet.
The granite sides were smooth and naked, and
the two white men, after hanging their horses to
a small cork-tree, climbed to the summit. Brown,
who had been in Western Australia before, had
seen these granite formations peculiar to that
colony, but to Morton they were a new pheno-
menon. From the top they had a good clear
view all round. Scrub, east and south, still
stretched before them. Presently they both at
the same time noticed a clear space west of
south, in which there was a sparkle like a reflec-
204 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
tion from the sun. Morton turned the glasses
on it.
" Salt lake," he said, after a pause.
Brown took the glasses and looked.
" Yes, another salt lake, there's no doubt. We'll
take the bearings and apparent distance; it's just
as well to have all these things down."
"Not worth while going over to it," said
Morton.
They descended the hill and rode round it to
see if there were any of the holes on the base of
the mound, such as are often found. In this case
there were two or three, but all small and dry.
" I don't see any good in going into that scrub
to the east," said Morton as they rode home;
" we'll make a start the day after to-morrow."
Brown agreed with him, and they reached
camp in good time.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Attack by the Surriving Warlattas Death of Lee-lee
The Last of the Cannibals.
NEXT morning was a lazy one. About eleven
o'clock Morton, who was talking to Brown
under the shade of a tree, proposed that they
should kill a few hours by a ride up the creek,
and called to Billy to bring up a couple of
THE LAST OF THE CANNIBALS. 205
horses. Charlie, who was in the tent, sung out
in reply that he had gone hunting with Lee-lee,
as their clothes were lying on the ground, for a
blackfellow always likes to strip whenever he
gets a chance.
"I will go and get the horses, they are just
down the creek," said Charlie, when he heard
what his cousin wanted.
He picked up two bridles and went off down
the creek.
Brown and Morton put their saddles down in
readiness.
The horses were not far, and Charlie soon came
back leading two. He had almost reached the
camp when a shrill yell of terror made them all
start.
Out from the forest came Billy, racing and
shouting, and behind him limped Lee-lee. There
was no need to ask what it meant; behind them,
in close pursuit, came other dark forms with up-
raised spears.
"Those Warlattas!" yelled Brown, as he and
Morton sprang for their rifles. Charlie was
transfixed with surprise. Two of the cannibals,
with their spears up, were now close to the
fugitives, the others pressing on so eagerly that
they did not see the white men. It all seemed
to Charlie to pass like a flash. The spears flew,
and the rifles cracked so closely one after the
other that it sounded almost like one report.
Down went Billy and Lee-lee, and the two War-
206 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
lattas behind them pitched forward headlong on
the ground. Startled by the firearms the others
halted, turned and fled. But the breech-loaders
spoke once more, and one Warlatta fell with a
broken leg, and the other dropped in a heap and
lay quiet, with a conical bullet between his shoul-
ders.
" Quick ! not one must get away," said Morton,
and he and Brown snatched the bridles from
Charlie's hand, and jumping on bare-backed,
galloped like avenging furies after the two re-
treating survivors. "Look after Billy!" yelled
Morton to Charlie, as he urged his excited horse
along.
The blacks fled into the forest, but the cover
came too late for them, with two of the best
riders in central Australia thirsting for their
blood. Charlie, as he went down to Billy, saw
his cousin race up to one man and they disap-
peared between the trees, but the report of a
revolver immediately after told its tale. Next
minute came two more pistol-shots from the
direction Brown had gone.
Billy had sat up by the time Charlie reached
him; he had been speared in the leg, but poor
Lee-lee was dead. The spear of the Warlatta
had pierced his heart.
Morton's and Brown's voices were now heard
coming back. They pulled ujp at the wounded
savage, and Morton slipped from his horse.
Charlie turned his head away, for he guessed
I
THE LAST OF THE BLOODTHIRSTY \\ARIATTAS
THE LAST OF THE CANNIBALS. 207
what was going to happen. No quarter for the
cannibals. He heard the revolver ring out, and
knew that Lee-lee was avenged.
His cousin came up, leading his horse and
putting his revolver back in his pouch. Both
men were flushed, and their eyes still blazed
with the fierce light of conflict.
"Poor Lee-lee!" said Brown, as they stood
beside his body. "We seem to have been his
evil genius."
" We've been the evil genius of the Warlattas,
thank goodness," said Morton grimly. " They're
all wiped out now, however."
The tragedy affected them all strongly. The
unfortunate half-caste meeting his death in such
an unexpected manner, when all seemed safe and
at peace, was sad.
Billy, however, demanded their attention.
Fortunately the spear was not a barbed one,
and had only gone into the fleshy part of his
thigh. It was soon extracted, the wound bound
up, and he was made as comfortable as possible.
Billy explained that he and Lee-lee were on
their way home when they saw the Warlattas,
who had evidently been stalking them for some
time. Had Billy been armed with firearms he
might have frightened them away; but as he
had nothing but a tomahawk, he thought discre-
tion the better part of valour and ran for it,
forgetting in his excitement that Lee-lee was
lame and could not keep up with him.
208 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
They buried the last poor relic of Leichhardt's
doomed party at the foot of the mountain, but
the bodies of the Warlattas were left to the
crows and hawks.
" Perhaps it is all for the best, sad as it seems,"
said Morton. " Those six devils could not keep
their lust for murder under, and but for this
row we might not have run across them. Then
they would have gone to the lake again and
finished their villainous work."
"I wonder where they got their weapons
from."
" There must have been some left in the bottle
tree camp in the basalt. We did not look about
much, if you remember."
" Well, that's the end of it all, I suppose."
" Unless somebody comes across Lee -lee's
brothers or sisters amongst the tribe to the
north."
The party perforce had now to remain where
they were until Billy was able to ride again, and
a dull time it was. A trip to the hot swamp
showed them that, during their absence at the
lake, the water had subsided and the swamp
become so dry that the fire had ravaged it,
burning the ragged, inflammable bark of the
trees, and licking up the reeds surrounding the
lakelet, which was now but a surface of cracked
mud.
"There is one question that always worries
me," said Brown, as they came to the spot where
THE LAST OF THE CANNIBALS. 209
the Warlatta track led into the basalt rocks.
" Do you think that Murphy was compelled to
join in their cannibal feasts?"
" I have thought of it too/' replied Morton,
" and have come to the conclusion that he was
not. At least, while he retained his reason.
When we saw him, you know, he was nearly
blind, and his mental faculties almost gone. My
reason for this is the anchor we found cut on
the tree at the lagoons; I daresay there were
more, and there were numberless marks of the
others. There was an ample game supply up
and down that creek, and I believe he spent
most of his time there hunting, until he became
too infirm to leave the cave."
"I am glad you think that, as I am of the
same belief. I think any white man, no matter
how slow his intellect, would prefer death."
"Still, cases have been known where men
have been maddened by starvation in an open
boat at sea; but in this case he would not have
been desperate with hunger. No, I think, and
am glad to think, that he had no part in their
evil doings or rites until he was irresponsible
for his actions."
" They would not have allowed him to go with
them on their raids for fear of his escaping.
Evidently they regarded him as a sort of fetish."
They dismounted and hung their horses to
a tree, and went a short distance amongst the
rocks. As they advanced all signs of a track
210 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
disappeared, for the place became one jumbled
mass of huge boulders piled on top of one
another, rough as a rasp underfoot, and bak-
ing hot from the vertical sun. What with the
natural heat of the day and the radiation from
the rocks, they were soon glad to turn back to
where they had left their horses.
" No wonder poor Stuart, barefooted and alone,
could not make his way any distance," remarked
Morton.
" I wonder what would have happened had he
met the Warlattas?"
"He had established a good funk amongst
them, and so he might have routed them. But if
they had killed him, I swear a good many would
have lost the number of their mess first."
" It always makes me feel sad when I think of
such a man being forced by fate to spend his life
amongst savages."
Billy's wound, like the flesh of most black-
fellows, was rapidly healing, but he was not yet
able to ride. The shadow cast on their spirits
by the murder of poor Lee-lee, rendered them all
anxious to be on the move and leave the ill-
omened camp behind them. The weather had
been continuously fine ever since they left.
That night, however, a black thunder-storm
gathered up, and towards evening the heavens
were overcast and the sky was one constant
blaze of lightning, and a continuous mutter of
thunder sounded from all points. Every pre-
THE LAST OF THE CANNIBALS. 211
paration had been made, and they watched with
interest the mustering of the storm spirits.
"I believe it's going to be one of those dry
dust-storms after all," said Brown.
To the east every blaze of light now showed
a low black cloud approaching.
"It's the wind coming," said Morton, "bringing
all the ashes from the burnt country; we shall
be smothered with dust and charcoal."
Even as he spoke there came a blinding glare
of white light, accompanied by a crash of thunder
that seemed to shake the hill to its foundation.
A rush of cold wind, bearing dust and ashes on
its wings, swept the camp and nearly carried
away the tent. Then the rain fell in one heavy
downpour. For nearly an hour the deluge kept
up, the continuous flashes making it as bright as
day, the constant roar and rattle of the thunder
never ceasing. Then the tumult died away in
the west, the stars peeped out, and the tropical
storm was over. Next morning the sky was
clear and the air fresh and pleasant.
" I'm hanged if I can stop in camp any longer,"
said Morton. "Billy, if you don't get that
'mundoee' of yours well soon, we'll go away
and leave you here."
Billy looked rather askance at the threat,
until he realized that Morton was joking.
Brown, who had been surgeon, said: "I think
we can rig up a sling or cradle for his leg soon,
so that he will be able to travel short stages."
212 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"I'm glad to hear it. That thunder-storm
must have put water into the rock-holes at the
granite rock. What do you say to a ride there
and then on to the salt lake we saw at a dis-
tance?"
"Right; it will kill time. But we'll start
to-morrow; let the ground dry up a bit. We'll
experimentalize on a cradle for Billy's leg to-
day."
CHAPTER XXVI
Visit to the Southern Salt Lake The Future of the
Interior A False Alarm Departure.
fTHHE cradle promised to be a success; so the
_L next morning, taking some rations in case
they had to camp out, Brown and Morton left
for the rock. The ground was still somewhat
soft, but not enough to impede their travelling,
and they reached the granite rock early. As
they had the bearing of the salt lake they did
not climb the rock again, but rode round the
base to see if the holes were full. They were all
brim-full, the sloping rock above acting like the
roof of a house in catching and shedding the
rainfall. They then struck out for the salt lake,
which they reached about one o'clock, passing
through sandy country all the way. The lake
was much larger than the one they had camped
A FALSE ALARM. 213
at to the north, but the surrounding country was
barren and grassless. Few signs of the former
presence of the natives were visible, and no in-
dication of a well having been dug. Evidently
the soil was so impregnated with salt that not
even brackish water could be obtained.
"What a real desert!" said Brown, gazing
round on the dreary scene.
" Yes, it's about as hopeless a looking picture
as one could find anywhere, at present. And yet,
if the artesian water is found to extend through-
out the interior, it will change the whole face of
the Australian earth in time. This spinifex
would not grow here, but that the climate is so
arid that nothing else will grow, and this beastly
stuff can thrive without any rain at all. No,
burn this scrub off, or clear it somehow, and,
with a good supply of artesian water, there are
a hundred and one payable products one could
grow here."
"You're an optimist, and an enthusiast at
that."
" I am as regards the future of Australia. I
believe the end of the coming century will see it
settled from east to west throughout."
"If one could fill up all the dry creeks and
lagoons we have passed with your artesian water,
we might modify the severity of the climate."
" Yes. Now, let's have a ride round this inland
sea in miniature."
"It smells like the sea, at anyrate; I bet that
214 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
water in there is concentrated brine. How about
all this saline country?"
" It has been proved successfully that the date-
palm will thrive on the shores of these salt lakes,
so they need not be quite barren."
Nothing of any interest was to be seen, and
they retraced their steps to the granite rock,
where they watered their horses. As there were
still a couple of hours of daylight, they started
back for their camp.
" Fancy if we had left the camp like this, for-
getting all about those six Warlattas hanging
about. What a massacre they would have had!"
said Brown, as they rode on.
"Yes, it makes me shudder to think of our
carelessness; for we ought to have remembered
there was danger to be expected from them."
When it fell dark they found themselves still
some three miles from home, and the darkness
somewhat retarded them in the scrub. Suddenly,
when nearing the mountain, a rifle-shot was heard
ahead, followed soon after by a different report,
like that of a shot-gun.
"Good God! what can be up?" exclaimed
Morton.
Both men fired their revolvers as a signal that
they were near, and pushed on as hastily as they
could. As soon as the open country was reached
they galloped straight for the camp. Everything
appeared peaceful enough, and Charlie seemed
surprised at their hasty approach.
A FALSE ALARM.
215
"What were you firing at?" asked Morton,
rather crossly, for no man likes to be flurried by
a false alarm.
" Well, I don't know exactly," replied Charlie.
" I had given you up for to-night, and was sitting
out here with Billy, when he called out that there
was something moving on the rocks over there.
I looked, and could indistinctly make out some
dark figure moving about, so I challenged; getting
no answer, I fired my rifle in the air. Whatever
it was they started away, but in a few minutes
came back again, so I fired the shot-gun at them
and they departed. Billy called out they were
'Jinkarras!' and covered his head with the
blanket, and I expect he has it there now."
"What were they like?" asked Brown.
"It was too dark to see, but they were cer-
tainly not natives, unless we have run across a
race of dwarfs."
Billy, on being induced to take his head from
underneath the blanket, asserted stoutly that
they were Jinkarras they had seen; that he
ought to know, as when he was a child he had
been carried off by one in the night.
" How did you get back, Billy?" asked Morton.
Billy commenced a long rambling yarn about
waking up to find himself being carried along by
a short, hairy man with red eyes; but his tale
ended somewhat lamely, for his next remem-
brance was of finding himself in the familiar
family camp, with his mother administering
216 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
severe slaps with the small end of a nulla-nulla.
Still he persisted in his statement that there were
Jinkarras, and that they lived underground.
" I shouldn't wonder," suddenly exclaimed
Brown, "if this legend of the Jinkarras, which
is common all over the central portion of Aus-
tralia, was not a surviving tradition, much dis-
torted, of our dear old friends the devil wor-
shippers."
" Not at all unlikely. We will run this particu-
lar brand of Jinkarra to earth in the morning,"
answered Morton.
Charlie was out before breakfast to inspect
the ground where he had seen the figures in the
night; but beyond a few good-sized boulders,
which he was certain he had not fired at, he failed
to discover any marks of a nocturnal visit.
Morton went out after breakfast, and imme-
diately saw what had caused the alarm. He
called Charlie over and pointed the tracks out to
him.
" This is a regular pad for the rock -wallabies,"
he said. " Only it has been covered up by the
burnt ashes of the grass. They were coming in
last night to feed on the young grass on the
bank of the creek, just springing after the rain.
I suppose some of them hopped on to these
boulders."
This explanation failed to satisfy Billy, who
was still convinced that the Jinkarras were
about, and was now anxious to get away.
A FALSE ALARM. 217
They devoted themselves to finishing the sling
for his leg, and made him take a short ride two
or three times, to get accustomed to it and find
out if it hurt him.
It was with feelings of great thankfulness
that they at last got ready to make a final
start and leave the place which had grown so
wearisome to them. For the sake of making
it easy for Billy, they intended to take two
days on the journey to the lagoons, so they
camped the first night on the creek above what
had been the hot swamp.
The next night they reached the familiar camp
at the lagoons, and now felt that they were fin-
ally on the homeward track. They had made a
rude pair of crutches for the black boy, and he
was now able to limp about on, what he called,
his "waddy-mundoees".
As a ma.tter of satisfaction they spelled a day,
for although the grass had all been burnt by
the fire, there was still good feed on the banks
of the lagoons. This day was devoted to thor-
oughly examining the trees up and down the
creek, and they were able to partly confirm their
conjectures about Murphy, by finding the anchor
marked on several more trees.
The thunder-storm had filled the small hole
they stopped at when they first sighted the
plain and the great limestone rock, so they
made a short stage there to give Billy every
chance. From what they remembered of the
218 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
nature of the country, there was not likely to
be any water retained along the scrub track.
They were all on the look-out during the next
morning for the spot where they first encoun-
tered the Warlattas. When they reached it
they found that the corpse was gone, the six
men despatched having seemingly done their
duty and taken it on to the burying-place.
"I suppose/' said Brown, "that it was only
men of importance amongst them that they took
the trouble to carry all this way. What did
they do with the others?"
" I forgot all about it," exclaimed Charlie.
They both looked at him in surprise.
" When I was down that hole, the first one, not
the tunnel affair, I saw some bones and skulls
amongst the boulders. I think it was that
which frightened Billy so. I could only see a few,
but there might have been thousands, for every-
thing was smothered with mud and our candles
did not give much light."
"At that rate, the rank and file were thrown
into the boiling spring when they pegged out,"
said Morton.
"Seemingly so," answered his friend. "But
we must push on, we have a good step ahead
of us."
The horses went merrily along the cleared
track, and as Billy showed no signs of fatigue
they made capital progress. As they anticipated,
the cleared track led them straight on to the
A FALSE ALARM. 219
open patch of downs country where the cemetery
was. A great surprise awaited them. The fire
had swept up from the south, and the whole
country was black. More than that, the fierce
flames had attacked the dry boughs forming
the scaffolds whereon the dead bodies had been
bestowed, and now, all that was to be seen were
half-charred bones lying here and there.
" It seems that Fate meant to destroy all traces
of the Warlattas in one act," said Morton, as they
sat on their horses and gazed at all that was left
of the cemetery of the cannibals.
"How was it this never happened before?"
remarked Brown.
" I don't understand. They must have kept it
burnt down short every year, and neglected it for
some reason. However, I'm not sorry, for if this
country extends any distance south I shall take
it up."
"Well, let's get to camp before it's dark. There
will be enough grass unburnt about the water-
hole for our horses to-night."
This proved to be the case, and the cheery
camp-fire was soon blazing brightly and every-
body chatting in good spirits.
" If you think seriously of taking up this bit
of country, we might as well explore it to-mor-
row now we are here. The horses will be better
for the rest, for remember, as far as we know,
there is not a drop of water between here and
the station a good hundred miles," said Brown.
220 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"That thunder-storm has been along here by
the look of it. It should have put some water
in some of those clay-pans we passed."
" Thunder-storms are mighty uncertain things
to trust to. They generally fall, as a rule, just
where they are no good to any one. We must
travel, when we start, as though it was dry the
whole way, although I think with you that we
shall find water."
" As it now stands," said Morton, drawing his
blanket over his shoulders, "the only real evidence
we have to show that the Warlattas ever existed,
is this cleared road in the scrub."
"And the wound in Billy's leg," murmured
Charlie, drowsily.
CHAPTER XXVIL
Home Again.
trip next morning was a promising one.
JL The creek kept a continued and well-
watered course for about fifteen miles, running
through well-grassed downs country all the way.
The place was burnt black with the fire, but that
did not hide the value of the country. Gradually
the scrub, which they had lost sight of for some
time, closed in on both sides, and it was evident
that the creek would soon run out, once it entered
the scrub. They were back in camp in time to
HOME AGAIN. 221
take a short ride up the creek, and ascertain
that there was nothing worth troubling about
in that direction. Brown fossicked out the
remains of the brandy when they had finished
their meal.
" Now, then," he said, when they had all put
some in their pannikins, " we must christen the
new run. What's it to be? You speak first,
Charlie."
" Warlatta Downs."
"Good!" said Morton; "we can't better that.
Here's good luck to Warlatta Downs."
" Now for the gold reef," said Brown.
There was silence whilst each thought of a
suitable name.
"Suppose we call it after Stuart, who was
really the first finder of it."
"The Stuart Eeef, then, and here's to his
memory.
They drank the toast in silence.
"That reminds me," remarked Brown, "that
portion of the diary relating the finding of the
gold reef must be carefully eliminated from the
original journal and our copies."
"We'll set about it now, to make sure. We
can restore it at any time when needful; mean-
time we don't want anybody to jump our claim."
They soon had the work finished, and the
part taken out was carefully put away.
"One more night and home," said Charlie
delightedly the next morning as they mounted.
222 THE SECRET OF THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT.
"I never thought so much of the old station
before."
The belt of scrub had still to be passed which
had proved such a terror on their outward
way. Sorely did they miss the well-cleared
track of the Warlattas. Luckily the thunder-
storm had extended most of the way, and they
reached home by easy stages.
" We have not lost a single horse in spite of
all the dry and desert country we have negoti-
ated," said Morton, as they rode over the familiar
ground some miles away from the station.
"No; that's something to boast of. Those
long spells we had at different places were the
salvation of our nags," replied Brown.
Their return that night caused great excite-
ment on the station. The men had been getting
impatient and anxious, and were thinking of
starting on their tracks to see if they had come
to grief.
Every Australian bushman knows the story of
Leichhardt, and when the men heard that the
mystery of his fate and of those who accom-
panied him had been at last solved, they felt
that a reflected glory was shed on all connected
with the station.
Billy had a great reception from his country-
men camped about the station. He exhibited
his wound, and let it be generally understood
that he had wiped out the Warlatta tribe single-
handed, although they were all giants over seven
HOME AGAIN. 223
feet high. Fortunately he knew nothing of the
gold reef, so was not able to dilate on that; but
the story of the lake and the caves there lost
nothing by telling, but he quite forgot to men-
tion his fright in the underground tunnel.
The news of their successful trip and interest-
ing discoveries was soon flashed along the over-
land telegraph-line. It was enthusiastically re-
ceived by some and scornfully doubted by others,
as is usual in these cases. Brown regretted that
they had not had a camera, and brought a few
pictures back with them ; but as the authenticity
of the documents have been since universally
admitted, the scoffers are confounded.
As yet they are awaiting their time before
returning to open up the reef, which they antici-
pate will be found to be joined by a line of
auriferous country with the rich gold discoveries
lately made in Western Australia.
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Edition, y. 6d.
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scientiously, they can hardly fail to be profited as well as pleased." Times.
-The Lion of St. Mark: Jaie of Venice. N
Edition, y. 6d.
11 Every boy should read The Lion, of St. Mark." Saturday Review.
-Both Sides the Border: . Ta . le of Ho ' s P ur f" d
Glendower. New Edi-
tion. $s. 6d.
" Mr. Henty retains the reader's interest throughout the story, which he tells
clearly and vigorously." Daily Telegraph.
Captain Bayley's Heir:
tion. 3-y. 6d
"Told with that vigour which is peculiar to Mr. Henty." Academy.
By Pike and Dyke : * Ta . le f ' h , e Ris ' <**?
J J Dutch Republic. New Edi-
tion. y. 6d.
" Told with a vividness and skill worthy of Mr. Henty at his best." Academy.
A Chapter of Adventures : r> , T1 7 ugh "'!
r Bombardment of
Alexandria, New Edition. 3^, 6d.
" Their chapter of adventures is so brisk and entertaining we could have wished it
longer than it is." Saturday Review.
-For the Temnlr A Tale of the Fal1 of Jerusalem.
^P 1 New Edition, y, 6d.
" Many an 'old boy', as well as the younger ones, will delight in this narrative of
that awful page of history." Church Times.
- Through the Fray : * St f the Lldite Riots -
o / New Edition.
_ r. 6d.
sod books Mr. Henty has
(4)
'This is one of the bst of the many good books Mr. Henty has produced.''
Record.
STORIES BY G. A. HENTY
G. A. HENTY
The Young Colonists: Tal < of th
o Boer Wars. New hai-
tion. 2 s - &d.
" It is vigorously written." Standard.
-In Freedom's CaUSe: ASto,yofWallaceandBruce.
New hdition. $s. 6a.
" His tale is full of stirring action and will commend itself to boys." Athenaum.
-When London Burned: . ry Re3tora ' ion
"A handsome volume, and boys will rejoice to possess it. . . ." Record.
-The Treasure of the Incas: ^
With a Map. 5^.
" The interest never flags for one moment, and the story is told with vigour."
World.
-With Roberts to Pretoria: **%*
a Map. 6s.
" In this story of the South African war Mr. Henty proves once more his incon-
testable pre-eminence as a writer for boys." Standard.
- Bonnie Prince Charlie : u e e f F 6 ntenoy and
"A historical romance of the best quality." A cademy.
-Through Russian Snows:
" Very graphically told." St. James's Gazette.
-The Tiger of Mysore:
"A thrilling tale." Athenceum.
-Wulf the Saxon: Story of the Norma "" Conquest
" We may safely say that a boy may learn from it more genuine history than he will
from many a tedious tome." Spectator.
(5)
BLACKI&S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
G. A. HENTY
With Kitchener in the Soudan :
and Omdurman. With 3 Maps. 6s.
" Characterized by those familiar traits which endear Mr. Henty to successive gene-
rations of schoolboys." Pall Mall Gazette.
-At the Point of the Bayonet: * * the
/ MahrattaWar.
With 2 Maps. 6s.
" A brisk, dashing narrative." Bookman.
-Through Three Campaigns:
and Ashanti. With 3 Maps. 6s.
" Every true boy will enjoy this story of plucky adventure." Educational News.
-St. George for England: p r e s of ressyand
" A story of very great interest for boys. " Pall Mall Gazette.
-With the British Legion: AstoiyoftheCariiit
o Wars. 6s.
" It is a rattling story told with verve and spirit. "Pall Mall Gazette.
-True to the Old Flag: ^ Ta ' e I ^ the , Ameri T
o War of Independence. 6s.
" Mr. Henty undoubtedly possesses the secret of writing eminently successful his-
torical tales." Academy.
At Aboukir and Acre. 5*.
" For intrinsic interest and appropriateness, At Aboukir and Acre should rank
high." Spectator.
-Redskin and Cow- Boy: A e ^* Western
"A strong interest of open-air life and movement pervades the whole book." Scotsman.
-With Duller in Natal: ^ A ap Born 6 , Leaden with
"Just the sort of book to inspire an enterprising boy." Army and Navy Gazette,
STORIES BY G. A. HENTY
G. A. HENTY
By Conduct and Courage:
" As it is the last it is good to be able to say that it shows no falling off in the
veteran's vigour of style or in his happy choice of a subject." Globe.
-With the Allies to Pekin:
With a Map. 6s.
"The author's object being to interest and amuse, it must be admitted that he has
succeeded. "Guardian.
By Sheer Pluck: ATaleoftheAshantiWar. 5^.
" Written with a simple directness, force, and purity of style worthy of Defoe."
Christian Leader.
-With Tee in Virginia A Story of the American
in virgn civjl War With 6
Maps. 6s.
" The story is a capital one and full of variety." Times.
To Herat- and Cahnl- A Story of the First Af han
War. With Map. 5> r.
"We can heartily commend it to boys, old and young." Spectator.
-A Knight of the White Cross:
of Rhodes. 6^.
" Quite up to the level of Mr. Henty's former historical tales." Saturday Review.
-In the Heart of the Rockies: ^ n r t y ur e f
in Colorado. 5.?.
" Mr. Henty is seen here at his best as an artist in lightning fiction." Academy.
-The Bravest of the Brave: .
" Lads will read this book with pleasure and profit." Daily Telegraph.
-A Roving Commission: ^J^V
" May be confidently recommended to schoolboy readers." Guardian.
-For Name and Fame: To Cibul with Roberts '
" The book teems with spirited scenes and stirring adventures." School Guardian*
(7)
BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
G. A. HENTY
In the Reign of Terror : e Advent es of a
o Westminster Boy. $s.
"May fairly be said to beat Mr. Henty's record." Saturday Review.
Rrif-r^n A Story of the Roman Invasion of
Britain. 6s.
"One of the most spirited and well-imagined stories Mr. Henty has written."
Saturday Review.
No Surrender ! A Tale of the Rising in La
"A vivid tale of manly struggle against oppression." World.
-The Dash for Khartoum : Ta ! e . of * e Nile
Expedition. 6s.
" It is literally true that the narrative never flags a moment." Academy.
-With Wolfe in Canada: -, The winning of
a Continent. 6s.
"A moving tale of military exploit and thrilling adventure." Daily News.
-Out with Garibaldi: *fg f / he Liberation
" It is a stirring tale." Graphic.
-Held Fast for England: **-* siege
"There is no cessation of exciting incident throughout the story." Atkenaum.
-Won by the Sword: * ^of the Thirty Years-
" As fascinating as ever came from Mr. Henty's pen." Westminster Gazette.
Flanders
-In the Irish Brigade:
"A stirring book of military adventure." Scotsman.
A Tale of the White Hoods of Paris.
-At Agincourt:
Cannot fail to commend itself to boys of all ages." Manchester Courier.
(8)
Biackie & Son's
Story Books for Boys
LARGE CROWN 8vo, CLOTH EXTRA. ILLUSTRATED
Capt. F. S. BRERETON
The Hero of Panama: A. of
by W. RAINEY, R.I. Olivine edges, 6s.
Under the Chinese Dragon :
by CHARLES M. SHELDON, Olivine edges, 5^
Tom Stapleton, the Boy Scout:
by LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR R. S. S. BADEN-POWELL, and illustrated
with coloured frontispiece and in black-and-white by GORDON
BROWNE, R.I. y. 6d.
"A rousing piece of story-telling." Westminster Gazette.
The Great Aeroplane: if I 6 of
"The story is a bracing one." Outlook.
Indian and Scout: ^^J ^ Gold Rush to
" A dashing narrative of the best quality." British Weekly.
A HerO Of Sedan: A Xale^f the Franco-Prussian
"The exciting events of the book are developed in a manly spirit and healthy
tone." Academy.
John Bargreave's Gold :
" The book is full of breathless happenings." Daily Graphic.
How Canada was Won: u e c f lfe and
" Will make the strongest appeal to the juvenile fancy* Outlook.
(9)
BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BurS
Capt. F. S. BRERETON
inciQ
Ranch Life
Roughriders of the Pampas: A Tale of
-With Wolseley to Kumasi:
in South America. 5-y.
"The interest is unflagging throughout the well-written tale." World.
of the
Ashanti
War. 6s.
" Boys will want nothing better." Daily Graphic.
- Tones of the 64th : A J a l e of the Battles of Assa >' e
J and Laswaree. 5.$-.
"The story is full of dash and spirit." Birmingham Post.
Ro^e r the Bold A Tale of the Con ^ uest of Mexic -
"The tale forms lively reading, the fighting being especially good." AtJien&um,
-With Roberts to Candahar: ATa1e A /' he
Third Afghan
War. 5J.
" A very tried author, who improves with each book he writes, is Captain F. S.
Brereton.' Academy.
-A Soldier Of Japan: A Tale^of the Russo-Japanese
"The pages bristle with hairbreadth escapes and gallantry. "Graphic.
-Foes of the Red Cockade:
tion. dr.
" A stirring picture of a fearful time." World.
-With the Dyaks of Borneo: e e r f' Head
" Young readers must be hard to please if With the Dyaks does not suit them."
Spectator.
-A Hero of Lucknow: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny -
" Full of action and picturesque adventure." British Weekly.
-AJCnight of St. John: A e
" Would enthral any boy reader." JF<7r/</.
(10)
BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
Capt. F. S. BRERETON
In the Grip of the Mullah :
"A more spirited tale could not be wished for. ' British Weekly.
-With Rifle and Bayonet : %%* ^~
-A Gallant Grenadier:
-One of the Fighting Scouts.
The Dragon of Pekin. New Edition. 31.6*1.
- With Shield and Assegai, y. M.
SIR HARRY JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.
Pioneers in West Africa. th f. co ! oui ? d
illustrations by the
author, and maps and other illustrations in black-and-white.
Demy 8vo, cloth extra, 6s.
-Pioneers in Canada. JtwSSUSJS
and other illustrations in black-and-white. Demy 8vo, cloth extra,
6s.
These two volumes are the first of a series, the object of which is to
provide reading of "real adventures" of those pioneers who have helped
to lay the foundations of the British Empire. The story is truthfully told
in a picture of splendid colouring, and with great accuracy.
ALEXANDER MACDONALD
Through the Heart of Tibet: $
6s,
"A rattling story.* British Weekly.
The White Trail A Story of the Early Days ot
_ i ne vv nice i ran Klondike. 6s.
" Should satisfy any boy's mental appetite." Outlook.
Pearl A Story of Adventure in lne
reari
Southern Seabt 6 ,.
' { This is the kind of story a boy will want to read at a sitting. ' Sctwolmaster
BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
ALEXANDER MACDONALD
The Invisible Island: 5 u s e l e n r s y la n f d the J
' ' A well-told story. " World.
-The Quest of the Black Opals:
in the Heart of Australia. 5^.
"An admirable tale." Westminster Gazette.
-The Lost Explorers: e ^* * Trackless
" As vivid a narrative as any boy could wish to read." Daily Graphic,
HARRY COLLINGWOOD
A Middy of the Kine: A Romance of the Old British
J D Navy. Illustrated by K. S.
HODGSON. Olivine edges, $s.
-The Adventures of Dick Maitland :
A Tale of Unknown Africa. Illustrated by ALEC BALL. Olivine
edges, $s. 6d.
-A Middy of the Slave Squadron : ^^
"An up-to-date sea story." Truth.
Overdue : or, The Strange Story of a Missing Ship. 3^. 6</.
" A story of thrilling interest" British Weekly.
-The Cruise of the Thetis: ATaieoftheCuban
Insurrection. $s.
11 A good, stirring book." Times.
STAFF SURGEON T. T. JEANS, R.N.
On Foreign Service or ' The Santa Cruz Revolution -
Clgll OC Illustrated by W. RAINEY, R.I.
" It is a rousing good yarn." Athenceum.
Ianf-
in the Chusan Archi
-Ford of H.M.S. Vigilant: * Tale of Adventure
pelago. 5.9.
"A distinctly good story." Naval and Military Record.
BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
STAFF SURGEON T. T. JEANS, R.N.
Mr. Midshipman Glover, R.N.: fj^ }
Navy of To-day. 5-r.
" Full of exciting adventures and gallant fighting." Truth.
HERBERT STRANG
The Adventures of Harry Rochester:
A Story of the Days of Marlborough and Eugene. 6s.
" One of the best stories of a military and historical type we have seen for many
a day." Athenceum,
- Boys of the Light Brigade :
sular War. 6s.
Professor Oman (Cbichele Professor of Modern History at Oxford, and author of
A History of the Peninsular War) writes : " I can't tell you what a pleasure and
rarity it is to the specialist to find a tale on the history of his own period in which
the details are all right . . . accept thanks from a historian for having got historical
accuracy combined with your fine romantic adventures ".
Brown of Moukden :
The book will hold boy readers spellbound." Church Times.
and the Great
-Tom Burnaby:
"A delightful story of African adventure." Spectator.
KOUO I A Story of the Russo-Japanese War. $s.
" For vibrant actuality there is nothing to come up to Mr. Strang's Kobo."
Academy.
ROBERT M. MACDONALD
n-M Ti 1 T-* TT A Tale of the De-
The Rival Treasure Hunters: batable Frontier
of British Guiana. 6s.
" A story which every schoolboy would probably describe as ' simply ripping '."
Daily Graphic.
The Orest White Chief- A Story of Adven "
-me Lrreat vvnite ^.nicr. ture in Unknown
New Guinea. 6s.
"A rattling story told with spirit and vigour." British Weekly.
d3)
BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
DAVID KER
Under the Flag of France : duGuesdin .
" Full of vigour and movement" British Weekly.
Among the Dark Mountains: n r>
3J. 6d.
"A glorious tale of adventure." Educational News.
ERNEST GLANVILLE
The Diamond Seekers: A story of Adventure
in South Africa. 6s.
" We have seldom seen a better story for boys." Guardian.
-In Search Of the Okapi : A Story of Adventure in
Central Africa. 6s.
"An admirable story." Daily Chronicle.
MEREDITH FLETCHER
Every Inch a Briton : A school story. 3*. 6<i.
"Mr. Meredith Fletcher has scored a success." Manchester Guardian.
Jefferson Junior : A school story, y. 6d.
"A comical yarn." Yorkshire Daily Observer.
FREDERICK P. GIBBON
The Disputed V.C. A Tale of the Indian Mutiny. 3*.
"A good, stirring tale, well told." Graphic.
G. MANVILLE FENN
The Boys at Menhardoc :
"The story is well worth reading." British Weekly.
Rlin Vin T anfl Among ^ e Blackfellows in New Guinea.
" One of the best tales of adventure produced by any living writer."
Daily Chroniclt.
(14)
BLACKI&S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
G. MANVILLE FENN
In the King's Name. y.6d.
"This is, we think, the best of all Mr. Fenn's productions." Daily News.
_ j)ick Q' t- }} Fens A Romance of the Great East
Swamp. 3-r. 6d.
"We conscientiously believe that boys will find it capital reading." Time*.
Dr. GORDON STABLES, R.N.
The Naval Cadet: A Story of Adventure on Land
and Sea. 3^. 6a.
" An interesting travellers' tale, with plenty of fun and incident in it." Spectator.
-For Life and Liberty: - War
" The story is lively and spirited." Times.
-To Greenland and the Pole :
" One of the best books Dr. Stables has ever written." Truth.
FRED SMITH
The World of Animal Life.
With eight full-page coloured Illustrations and numerc'.::; black-and-
white Illustrations. Crown 4to, iiX inches by 9^ inches. Hand-
some cloth cover. Gilt top, 5-r.
"An admirable volume." Birmingham Gazette.
A. J. CHURCH
of the World A Tale of the Fal1 of Car '
thage and Corinth. 3^.6^.
"As a boys' book, Lords of the World deserves a hearty welcome." Spectator.
G. I. WHITHAM
Trie Nample^ Prinre ATaleofPlantagenetDays.
QCe Illustrated by CHARLES M.
SHELDON, is. 6d.
-The Red Knight A Tale of the Days of King
- i lie ivcu ivmgiiL . EdwardIIL n lustrate d. 2 s.6d.
" It holds the imagination from beginning to end." British Wttkly.
(is)
^BLACKIE'S STORY BOOKS FOR BOYS
ESCOTT LYNN
When Lion-Heart was King : o
and Merry Sherwood. 3^. 6d.
"A lively \.a\e." Birmingham Post.
WILLIAM BECK
Hawkwood the Brave : * . Tale of
Italy. $s. 6.
" A good story for boys." Literary World.
DOROTHEA MOORE
God's Balm : A Story of the Fen Country. 3*. 6d.
"An excellent tale, most dainty in execution and fortunate in subject." Globe.
-The Luck of Ledge Point: A L ale of ' 8 5-
o 2s. 6d.
" We thoroughly recommend it as a gift book. "Schoolmaster.
WALTER C. RHOADES
For the Sake of His Chum: Sch '
Story. $s.6d.
" There is a breeziness about the book which is sure to commend it." Athenaum.
-Two Scapegraces: A school story. y .6<i.
"A school story of high merit." Liverpool Mercury.
PAUL DANBY
The Red Army Book. with ."* '" ustr * tio " s
/ in colour and in black-
and-white. 6s.
" Every boy would glory in the keeping and reading of such a prize." Daily Telegraph.
]. CUTHBERT HADDEN
The Nelson Navy Book. J
and-white. 6^.
" A stirring, heartening tale, bold and bracing as the sea itself." Standard.
PERCY F. WESTERMAN
The Quest of the Golden Hope :
tury Story of Adventure. Illustrated by FRANK WILES. 2s. 6d.
(16)
PR
4699
F19S4.
Favenc, Ernest
f r
tralian desert
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